As outlined in a memo MLB sent to all 30 teams, checks for foreign substances began in full earnest this week. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, it amounted to Julio Urias, Phil Bickford, David Price and Joe Kelly being the team’s first pitchers to go through the exercise.
After tossing a hitless eighth inning against the San Diego Padres, Kelly was checked for substances on his way back to the dugout. Like the Dodgers pitchers before him, Kelly was given a quick all-clear.
“It went good,” he stated. “I passed my test. It was one of those tests that I’m really good at passing, so it wasn’t anything I was worried about.”
Though many players around the league have expressed dissatisfaction with the crackdown on foreign substances, Kelly voiced a differing opinion. “I think it’s great,” he began.
“It’s one of those things that like if you were an NBA player, there’s no home court advantage anymore. Every single basketball court is the same. NFL, all the dimensions are the same. Baseball is still behind with all the fields not being the same dimensions; the only thing that’s the same is the mound.
“Now with everyone on the same playing field for the sticky stuff, it’s pretty much leveling the playing field for guys that don’t know how to use it or know how to use it, I think.”
A known jokester, Kelly playfully handed his glasses to the umpires and insisted they inspect those as well.
“They didn’t want to check them, but I said, ‘You should check these anyway, because they’re sick.’ And they laughed,” Kelly said. “That’s not in the rule book, but I just wanted to make sure they check them so they could see what I was wearing.”
Umpires’ ability to inspect for foreign substances has been a point of debate ever since the rule enforcement was brought into discussion. While players like Trevor Bauer have suggested the inspections might yield inaccurate results, Kelly wasn’t so quick to give a definitive answer on the matter.
“I can’t go on what the baseline is. That’s out of my pay grade, and I don’t know how thorough they are. Thorough or not thorough, just putting it out there, I think it’s going to deter people anyways,” he said.
“Knowing they have to take your glove, doesn’t really matter how thorough it is, I guess. It’s like a speed limit. If you’re going over the speed limit, you know there’s a chance to get a speeding ticket.
“I think it’s more of just putting it forth and following up with it is more of a deterrent if they’re really trying to find it.”
Kelly’s attitude toward substance checks not unanimous
While Kelly supports the league’s inspections, his thoughts are not reflective of all players. Among those most outspoken against the rule enforcement is Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow.
After partially tearing his UCL and straining his flexor tendon, Glasnow gave a harsh critique of the new policy, stressing that the rule change came at an inappropriate time. Glasnow also stated his belief the injury stemmed from MLB enforcing the change.
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