MIAMI – Marcus Stroman’s intimation that the current crop of baseballs are responsible for a spate of blisters captured the attention of Rob Manfred, who has instructed Major League Baseball to examine the matter.
Speaking with members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America on Tuesday afternoon, the commissioner cautioned that he wouldn’t comment too broadly on the issue at this point. But he did offer that he had requested further analysis of the seams on the balls.
“This is a relatively new thing that just emerged with the Toronto people,” Manfred said. “I’ve asked my folks to take a look at the seams. Rather than shoot from the hip, I’m aware of the issue. We’re looking at the issue. I just don’t know what the answer is. It literally has come up within the last week.”
The Toronto Blue Jays right-hander left a July 3 start at Yankee Stadium after five innings and 79 pitches with the beginnings of a blister, and afterwards told reporters “it’s no coincidence” that a number of pitchers have struggled with blisters this season.
“I’ve never had a blister in my life, nothing even remotely close to having a blister. It’s crazy. It’s extremely frustrating, extremely frustrating,” Stroman continued. “I feel like it’s an epidemic that’s happening across the big leagues now, a bunch of pitchers getting blisters, guys who have never had blisters before. For MLB to turn their back to it, I think that’s kind of crazy.
“I have no theory. But obviously, I mean, it’s not a coincidence that it’s happening to so many guys all of a sudden. It’s not a coincidence.”
Aside from Blue Jays teammate Aaron Sanchez, who also struggled with blister troubles last season, David Price, Noah Syndergaard, Taijuan Walker, Jharel Cotton and Justin Nicolino are among the others who have problems this year.
The composition of the baseball has been a hot topic all season as home runs have been hit at a record pace, with studies suggesting the current crop of balls are juiced. Manfred said MLB has commissioned two experts to study the ball and neither found any discernible difference.
“I do know with absolute certainty that the baseball falls within the tolerance of the specifications that have existed for many years,” he said. “Absolutely certain about that.”
Still, union head Tony Clark noted during a separate session with the BBWAA that the players association is also looking into the composition of the baseball.
“We’ve begun discussions with MLB asking a number of questions ourselves, trying to appreciate what may be factual and what may be not,” he said. “That is an ongoing dialogue that has started here as well.”
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