ＭＬＢ、粘着物質取り締まりへ　使用で１０試合出場停止

【ロサンゼルスＡＦＰ＝時事】米大リーグ機構（ＭＬＢ）は１５日、公平なプレー環境をつくるための取り締まり策の一環として、ボールの回転数を上げたり、コントロールを良くしたりするために粘着物質を使った投手に対し、１０試合の出場停止処分を科すなどの新ルールを発表した。（写真は資料写真）
　大リーグでは今季、打者の打率が下がる一方で三振率は上がっており、投手の粘着物質の使用に厳しい目が向けられていた。その中でロブ・マンフレッドコミッショナーは１５日、調査の結果、多くの選手が粘着物質を使っていることが分かったため、今後はボールの状態を変える投手やチームスタッフに対し、リーグとして厳しい対応を取っていくと発表した。
　新しいルールでは、先発投手は１試合に数回、２番手以降の投手は最低１回、ルールに従っているかのチェックを受けることになる。
　リーグが行った調査では、粘着物質はボールの回転数や動きを大幅に改善させ、投手を有利にすることが分かっている。
　そして２週間前にリーグが調査を行っていることを各チームに伝えると、ボールの回転数は下がって打撃成績は向上した。回転数が下がった中には、ロサンゼルス・ドジャースのトレバー・バウアーやニューヨーク・ヤンキースのゲリット・コールら、リーグを代表する投手もいた。
　一方でマンフレッド氏は、今回のルールは「特定の選手やチーム」を標的にしたり、悪者にしたりするためのものではないと強調している。
　またリーグは、新ルールは投手だけに適用されるものではなく、野手もボールに粘着物質を使っていることが発覚した場合には、退場と出場停止の処分が下るとしている。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】

〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/06/16-14:12）

Major League Baseball pitchers using foreign substances to affect spin rate and ball control will face automatic 10-game suspensions as part of a new crackdown designed to level the playing field, the league announced Tuesday.
The use of sticky substances by pitchers has come under the microscope since the start of the new baseball season as batting averages have plummeted and strikeout rates have soared.
Major League Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said Tuesday that after an investigation found widespread use of foreign substances, the league plans to get tough with pitchers and team employees altering the condition of the ball.
After an extensive process of repeated warnings without effect, gathering information from current and former players and others across the sport, two months of comprehensive data collection, listening to our fans and thoughtful deliberation, I have determined that new enforcement of foreign substances is needed to level the playing field, Manfred said in a statement.
I understand there's a history of foreign substances being used on the ball, but what we are seeing today is objectively far different, with much tackier substances being used more frequently than ever before.
It has become clear that the use of foreign substance has generally morphed from trying to get a better grip on the ball into something else -- an unfair competitive advantage that is creating a lack of action and an uneven playing field.
Under the new guidelines, starting pitchers will be checked on multiple occasions throughout a game to ensure they are complying with the rules. Relievers will be checked at least once per game.
Major League Baseball said that an analysis of baseballs collected throughout the first two months of the season had found a prevalence of foreign substance use in the league and minor leagues.
Many baseballs were found to have dark amber-colored markings that were sticky to the touch, the league said.
Research by the league found that foreign substances dramatically increased the spin rate and movement of the ball, giving pitchers an unfair competitive advantage over hitters.
Since Major League Baseball first informed teams they were investigating the issue two weeks ago, offensive numbers have improved while spin rates by pitchers have also declined.
Several prominent pitchers including the Los Angeles Dodgers Trevor Bauer and the New York Yankees Gerrit Cole, were among those pitchers whose spin rates have declined in recent outings.
Manfred however insisted the crackdown was not intended to target any individual player or club or placing blame.
It is about a collective shift that has changed the game and needs to be addressed, Manfred said.
We have a responsibility to our fans and the generational talent competing on the field to eliminate these substances and improve the game.
The league said that the new regulations did not apply exclusively to pitchers. Position players found to be applying foreign substances to a ball would face ejection from the game and suspension.