We may have ourselves a rivalry brewing between the Clevleland Indians and the Houston Astros.
Claims were made on Twitter that various Astros pitchers were doctoring baseballs in order to increase spin rate. One person replied with chewing gum being the likely culprit.
Chewing gum? Also spit balls would reduce spin theoretically. Anyway, what a weird coincidence you have discovered. 樂 https://t.co/t7noehg4ui
— Kyle Boddy (@drivelinebases) May 1, 2018
Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer then decided he had to speak his mind.
If only there was just a really quick way to increase spin rate. Like what if you could trade for a player knowing that you could bump his spin rate a couple hundred rpm overnight...imagine the steals you could get on the trade market! If only that existed...
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) May 1, 2018
Bauer coming off the top rope with this one. However, the pitcher had to realize that someone from the Astros side would come and enter the fray. That person was starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr.
Jealousy isn’t a good look on you my man. You have great stuff and have worked hard for it, like the rest of us, no need for this. I will ask though because my spin rate and spin axis on my 4 seem is a$$. https://t.co/jvbLuWWqgN
— Lance McCullers Jr. (@LMcCullers43) May 1, 2018
Bauer replies to McCullers nearly 10 minutes later, and also blamed the MLB for what he thinks is going on.
Not jealous my friend. Promise you that. I respect what you all are doing over there. My gripe is with the hypocrisy of @mlb for selectively enforcing rules when it suits them
— Trevor Bauer (@BauerOutage) May 1, 2018
While the fight is between Bauer and McCullers, it remains to be seen if the debate will spread across the league, just like when Astros were outspoken in regards to "juiced baseballs." It's a tricky situation, which is something that the league will have to address at some point.
However, this makes the Indians-Astros series later this month that much more exciting, especially with both Bauer and McCullers taking the mound.