In March, Major League Baseball sent two different memoranda to clubs saying it would increase the monitoring and application of rules banning cruisers from applying foreign substances to baseballs.
Less than one week into the season, the league’s last attempt at suppression is put to the test. And a pitcher who was perhaps more outspoken than anyone else on the subject – Trevor Bauer, the right-handed Dodgers – is already attracting attention.
The referees in Bauer’s start against the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday collected several balls that he threw during the game. The balls have visible marks and were sticky and were sent to the league offices for further investigation, the sources said.