League steps up ball monitoring

Major League Baseball is increasing its monitoring of baseballs in an attempt to suppress any use of foreign substances by pitchers.

Mike Hill, newly hired as executive vice president of baseball operations and disciplinarian, wrote in a memorandum to team officials on Tuesday that “players are subject to discipline … regardless of whether evidence of the violation has been discovered during or following a game.”

“Examples of prohibited conduct include, but are not limited to, handling foreign substances, advising a pitcher how to use or otherwise mask the use of foreign substances, interfering with the collection of game-used baseballs and failing to report observed violations of these rules by players or staff.”

Hill said team leaders may be held responsible for violations by staff.

In a two-page memo to owners, CEOS, team presidents, general managers and mangers first reported by ESPN and the New York Post, Hill outlined three new enforcement components:

• Game day compliance monitors and electronics compliance officers will check for violations in dugouts, clubhouses, tunnels, batting cages and bullpens, and they will file daily reports to the commissioner’s office.

• Umpires, equipment authenticators and compliance personnel will submit baseballs that come out of play to the commissioner’s office for inspection and documentation, both suspicious equipment and randomly select balls. A thirdparty lab will be used for examinations, and suspicious balls will be traced back to pitchers.

• MLB Statcast data will be reviewed by the commissioner’s office to analyze spin rate changes among pitchers suspected of using foreign substances, comparing game data with career norms.

Tatis’ shoulder feels ‘really good’

Fernando Tatis Jr. is feeling a lot better, a huge relief to the star San Diego shortstop, his team and his many fans.

A day after Tatis walked off the field during an exhibition game in a worrisome scene at Peoria, Ariz., the Padres said the discomfort in his left shoulder had improved.

In fact, the flashy 22year-old wanted to play Wednesday night against San Francisco in Scottsdale.

No way, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said.

“He’s feeling really good today,” Tingler said. “In fact he was lobbying to get in the lineup today, so I thought that was very encouraging.”

Rangers pick up Woodward option

The Texas Rangers have exercised their 2022 option on manager Chris Woodward’s contract even before he begins his third season with the team.

Rangers president of baseball operations Jon Daniels said the move announced Wednesday in Surprise, Ariz., a week before the start of the 2021 season, was merely a formality for the team.

Woodward, 44, is 100-122 in his two seasons with the rebuilding Rangers.