Robbie Ray and other pitchers do not believe MLB has been transparent enough about changes in the ballsGETTY IMAGES
D-backs P Robbie Ray said that a recent home run he gave up during yesterday's Padres game is the "latest piece of evidence that the balls being used in the majors this season are compromised," according to Nick Piecoro of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Ray said, "Something's got to change. ... It's something that needs to be looked into. It's just ridiculous." Ray gave up a home run in the fourth inning of yesterday's game "on a ball that was not struck particularly hard." Piecoro notes at this point, there is "little doubt something has changed with the baseballs in recent seasons." Earlier this month, MLB "established a new single-season home run record" with two and a half weeks remaining in the regular season. Still, Ray and other D-backs pitchers "do not believe the league has been transparent enough when it comes to the changes in the balls." D-backs P Mike Leake said, "It just needs to become an open topic. I don't think it needs to continue to be a hidden topic. I think it would be a very wise thing if the commissioner brought it to attention and said, 'Here's the information'" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/23).
JUST ADMIT IT: A's P Blake Treinen said, "Anyone who watches the games knows the ball has changed, and if that's the case, it's messing with a lot of people's careers, a lot of people's seasons in a way that's not fair." Treinen: "Whoever's responsible: Just be honest. That's all we want" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 9/22). In Denver, Patrick Saunders wrote the Rockies "won't say this publicly because they don't want to make excuses for their pitchers or exacerbate fears of pitching at altitude, but there is a feeling that this year's funky baseballs contributed to Colorado's terrible pitching at Coors Field this season." The Rockies' 6.32 ERA and 140 home runs given up at Coors Field are the "worst marks" in the NL (DENVER POST, 9/22).
