Getting a Grip

The news that MLB finally plans to take steps to police the use of super-sticky substances by some pitchers is welcome. Still, as in just about everything else MLB has done under Commissioner Rob Manfred, their plan going forward doesn't seem to be well thought out. By instituting this crackdown effort 2-1/2 months into an ongoing season, there will be unintended consequences that could have been avoided by taking these steps before the start of the season.

Everyone Gets a No-Hitter

George Bradley
(seated in center)

If you follow baseball closely, you know there has been much discussion this year about "fixing the game." Even low-scoring 9-inning games are long and dull. Strikeout numbers are higher than ever, and batting average and slugging percentage numbers are trending downward. There have been 6 no-hitters just 6 weeks into the 2021 season. To put this in perspective, Corey Kluber's no-no from two days ago was the 311th in MLB history, going back to July 15, 1876, when George Bradley of the St. Louis Brown Stockings no-hit the Hartford Dark Blues 2-0.