Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Mark Prior Was Proactive With Dodgers Pitching Staff Amid MLB’s Ban On Foreign Substances
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Mark Prior Was Proactive With Dodgers Pitching Staff Amid MLB’s Ban On Foreign Substances

Matt Borelli
August 29, 2021
4 Min Read
General view of baseball
Jasen Vinlove/USA TODAY Sports
SHARE

MLB implemented significant change earlier this season by beginning to enforce its rules against the use of foreign substances on baseballs.

The league reached such a decision in the wake of offense dropping to historic lows across the sport. MLB attributed the drop-off in production to pitchers applying sticky substances to baseballs, which helped them increase their spin rates and improve command.

Ever since reports began to surface that MLB was planning a crackdown on the use of foreign substances, spin rates dropped around the league and more runs started being scored. Some pitchers have since seen an increase in spin rate, but levels remain lower than before the change.

The new rules forced pitchers to adapt in the middle of a season, which was the root of frustration for some. For Dodgers pitching coach Mark Prior, he had already began an effort to help his pitching staff stay ahead of the curve, per Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic:

“I’m more worried about, can we execute pitches in the right locations, in the right lanes, at the right time, in the right counts,” Prior said. “No matter what’s going on (around the league) we’re always trying to keep an eye on what’s going on (with our guys). … I don’t think that dynamic changes from my perspective and how we evaluate guys and how we use what we feel are things that are working well for a guy and then try to exploit those in a given (outing).

“I think over the course of time, pitching has always been adjusting. It was sinker-slider when I first came up, and then it’s kind of flipped to a little bit more (of a) vertical game. … I think it’s definitely plausible (that) that action and a little bit more playing down in the zone will help. But at the end of the day, you’re trying to find the best people and the best arms and go to battle.”

Although offense has increased since MLB began tasking umpires with regular checks of pitchers, the rule change was blamed for injury.

Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow was the most emphatic to do so, suggesting his partially torn UCL was a byproduct of not even being allowed to use sunscreen.

He admitted to using a mixture of sunscreen and rosin in the past to get a better grip on his pitches, and believes not being able to do so in during a start caused the injury.

Treinen upset with foreign substances perception

The Dodgers have not appeared to suffer much from a performance standpoint, but Blake Treinen made note of his disappointment over the perception sticky checks created.

“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,” he said earlier this season.

“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.”

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and more!

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Los Angeles DodgersMark Prior
ByMatt Borelli
Matt Borelli covers the Los Angeles Dodgers as a staff writer for Dodger Blue and holds similar responsibilities for Lakers Nation, a sister site with an emphasis on the Los Angeles Lakers. He also contributes to RamsNewswire.com and RaidersNewswire.com. An avid fantasy sports player, Matt is a former 2014 MLB Beat the Streak co-champion. His favorite Dodgers moment, among a list of many, is Clayton Kershaw's no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies in 2014. Follow him on Twitter: @mcborelli.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Walker Buehler Deems Performance Against Rockies Not ‘Good Enough’

September 9, 2018
September 9, 2018
Michael Grove
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Michael Grove On Dodgers’ Taxi Squad As Possible Bullpen Depth

May 19, 2023
May 19, 2023
Miguel Vargas
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers News: Miguel Vargas ‘Excited’ To Be Part Of 59FIFTY Day Marketing Campaign

June 12, 2023
June 12, 2023
2022 MLB postseason logo
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Dodgers Players Split More Than $3 Million In 2022 Postseason Shares

November 23, 2022
November 25, 2022

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어