Apparently spin rates rebounded towards the end of last season so MLB thinks that pitchers found ways to hide stuff on them while getting around the checks.

Quote

Beginning in spring training games this weekend and throughout the season, umpires will inspect a pitcher’s hand, top and bottom, when conducting random between-innings inspections. Umpires can still examine a pitcher’s hat, belt and glove, as was done last season starting in June.

In the memo to clubs obtained by Sports Illustrated, senior vice president of baseball operations Mike Hill wrote, “If an umpire’s inspection reveals that the pitcher’s hand is unquestionably sticky or shows unmistakable signs of the presence of a foreign substance, the umpire will conclude that the pitcher was applying a foreign substance to the baseball for the purpose of gaining an unfair competitive advantage.” In such a case the pitcher is ejected and suspended automatically.

Hill continued in the memo, “If an umpire observes a pitcher attempt to wipe off his hands prior to an inspection he may be subject to immediate ejection.”

Catchers and position players, who could harbor source material, are subject to the same rules. Starting pitchers “should continue to expect more than one mandatory check per game,” according to the memo. Each relief pitcher will be checked at least once.

 

It makes me sad that cheating is so widespread this is necessary.

 

More evidence of the greedy, morally bankrupt owners.