With the turmoil created by Major League Baseball’s midseason decision to curtail pitchers’ usage of illegal foreign substances, the Red Sox are representative of the differing reactions among players.
On one side, designated hitter J.D. Martinez thinks Boston will sail through relatively unscathed.
“I don’t think it really affects us,” Martinez said before the game on Wednesday. “I don’t think it affects our pitchers, honestly. Talking with our pitchers, nobody really uses that kind of stuff. Nobody uses those kind of substances. So I think it’s going to benefit us.”
Apparently, Martinez didn’t check with the Red Sox starter that day, Garrett Richards.