Pitchers have for years used substances to make sure they get a good grip on the ball, and as things like spin rate have become easier to track, many of them are seeing the appeal of finding ways to go beyond grip and have started using substances to increase their spin.
They might have gone too far. Entering Sunday, the major-league batting average was .238, the lowest since 1968.
As a result, the league is planning to crack down on the use of substances that do more than enhance grip. But whether there’s a clear line between what’s allowed and what’s not isn’t yet clear.