Spin rate decreases already impacting MLB

Here’s to more good than bad this week!

Seattle 6, Cleveland 2

CTC Recap | Box Score

Shane Bieber struggled and Mariners rookie Logan Gilbert kept Cleveland’s offense off-balance, allowing just one run over 6.2 innings. With the loss, Cleveland fell to 34-28 on the season.

Cleveland baseball news

Bieber’s curve off-target in loss to Mariners | indians.com

From Mandy Bell:

For the first time in his career, Bieber gave up multiple homers off his curveball in the 6-2 series finale loss to the Mariners at Progressive Field. Entering Sunday, the 26-year-old had allowed just seven total homers on the pitch in his career but has now given up three in 2021.

“Lately, I haven’t been able to rely on it as heavily as I did at points earlier in the season or last year, specifically,” Bieber said. “But that’s pitching. That’s OK. There were a few instances today where I could have escaped some jams and gotten myself out of some troubling situations and just wasn’t able to. That’s the game. And you can’t beat yourself up too much for it.”

If our ace used some SpiderTack-type grip enhancer in the past, so be it. Plenty in the league did, maybe most (67% of pitchers have had a spin reduction since June 3 warning). But lower spin rates probably aren’t going away, so this new normal is gonna take some getting used to. Hoping Bieber gets back on track soon.

Better news ...

Around the League

• Blue Jays crush eight homers in rout of Red Sox.
• Offense improves after MLB issues warnings about sticky grip substances.
• Rangers release Khris Davis.
• Cubs fans impress with long beer snake.
• Diamondbacks reveal gold ‘Serpientes’ uniforms honoring Arizona’s Hispanic culture.