Atlanta Braves: Sticky stuff pitchers and pitching coaches

The Atlanta Braves must police their players

MLB made it clear to the clubs that the league holds the team responsible for their pitcher’s indiscretions. The player does receive a 10-game suspension, but unlike other suspensions, the suspended player still gets paid.  While paying a player to sit home watching Jeopardy, the club must play a man short; the club may not replace the suspended player – or players – on the active roster.

The idea of being a pitcher short – even a less than stellar performing pitcher – must give manager Brian Snitker worse nightmares than he has after calling on one of his best and watching him implode.

The club is expected to educate players and staff on the consequences of getting caught. If an Atlanta Braves employee is found assisting, encouraging, or teaching a player to use illegal sticky stuff, the individual is subject to discipline, including placement on the ineligible list.

If players on a specific club violate these rules consistently, the club and staff are subject to fines and other sanctions.

Please keep in mind that a pitcher finding a way to increase spin rate does not indicate that they used a substance.

Charlie Morton and spin

I’ve seen chatter that Atlanta Braves starter Charlie Morton had a large jump in spin rate. Morton told David O’Brien in the Athletic (subscription required) that he had nothing to hide.

“I’ll say this: Ever since this became (an issue) — I was directly caught up in it in Houston, and I have never once worried, at all, about anything that could happen in this game that’s going to affect my spin rate.”

In 2011, Pirates pitching coaches suggested he study Roy Halladay and adapt to a similar style. He worked to do that and, in 2016, found himself on the Phillies alongside Halladay. The following year Houston signed him to a contract no one understood, and Morton became a star.

His fastball spin remained constant through 2019 at 2240-2250 rpm, jumped 90 points in 2020 – (probably sample size and odd-season related).

So far this year, his fastball is steady at 2336 and his sinker at almost exactly his 2017 rate. Morton’s big curve is spinning slightly more – 150 RPM – this year, but that’s likely aided by the higher seams on the ball and is only 50 RPM higher than his 2015 curve.