While MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is pleased with the early results of the foreign substances crackdown and checks, players across the league, including multiple Los Angeles Dodgers, have been critical of how the situation is being handled.
Blake Treinen joined Trevor Bauer, Justin Turner and manager Dave Roberts as the Dodgers who have spoken out about the league’s mid-season rule change.
Treinen specifically noted how it frustrates him that umpires have been checking pitchers on the field, which can make fans think the player was cheating, but said they’ll have to deal with it whether they want to or not.
“The only thing that I really don’t like is it makes every pitcher that comes onto the mound kind of like a guilty culprit until proven innocent,” Treinen said. “We all just look like we’re a bunch of cheaters to the publics’ eyes, and that’s not really fair to a majority of the pitchers out there. But we’ll do what we have to do if that’s what it means to clear our names.”
He went on to say that no pitcher has been caught using any substances since the league started checking pitchers, but that the optics of the checks are bad for the players. It was previously reported that MLB was hoping to avoid suspensions with their rule enforcement.
“Is it cracking down or is it just a facade? I don’t know. I think there’s other ways they can handle it. Why can’t there be an umpire in the dugout when the pitcher comes out? Why does it have to be in the public, so we all look like we’re a bunch of cheaters,” Treinen said.
He also called out MLB for being hypocritical in their enforcement of rules, saying the league only enforces things that affect pitchers while hitters are given a free pass most of the time.
“Nobody checks every single batter. Nobody checks every single pine tar placement on the bat. Nobody checks everything. But the pitchers are always the ones having to change the game and adjust to a bunch of protocols that never really affects the hitter,” Treinen said.
“The only thing I can imagine is them staying in the box between pitches, and that’s totally faded away without there being any enforcement. Look, I think those are all — in a nutshell — silly things that shouldn’t be part of the game. You shouldn’t have to worry about, ‘Oh, is he in the box or not?’ That’s part of the game.
“Is somebody using something? Make your determination in the game. If you want to have the cajones to call somebody out on the mound as a manager, then go do it. If not, then let it be. If you think somebody is using something, by all means you have the right to go and ask. But to slow the game down and make a facade and this huge spectacle is a little excessive. It’s pretty much condemning the pitcher in the game and trying to prove them innocent.”
Treinen benefitting from change?
With the drop in spin rates across since MLB began to enforce their foreign substances rule, many pitchers will need to adjust.
It could make way for naturally lower-spin pitches, such as sinkers, to become more popular, which could benefit Treinen. However, Treinen noted he just wants to keep pitching the same way.
“Honestly, I’m just going to continue to do what I’ve been doing,” he said. “I can’t get caught up in what rules and regulations MLB wants to implement. What other people need to do for their careers is up to them. I’m going to stay in my lane.”
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