So, how will Major League Baseball's crackdown on substances used by pitchers impact the Red Sox?
According to J.D. Martinez, it's going to be a good thing for his team.
"I don’t think it really affects us," the Red Sox designated hitter/outfielder said Wednesday afternoon. "I don’t think it affects our pitchers, honestly. Talking with our pitchers, nobody really uses that kind of stuff. Nobody uses those kind of substances. So I think it’s going to benefit us."
Martinez did, however, note that the use of the now-banned substances by pitchers had become so prevalent throughout baseball the vast majority of hurlers were partaking in the practice.
"I think it was one of those things that it started off with a couple of guys we’re using it and everyone kind of turned their head and looked the other way and then the secret got off. Everyone started using it and then the league starts … the entire league starts using it," he said. "Do I blame the pitchers? No, I don’t, because they’re being compared to their peers. And if the other pitchers are using it, they’d be stupid not to use it. That was kind of Trevor Bauer’s whole point back when he used to have those Twitter wars with Houston and them, so I do blame them, no, but I think what happens is everyone starts seeing it, everyone starts seeing the benefit of it, the amount of spin they can put on the ball, the way they can make the ball move and the benefit of it. the whole league starting doing it. and then what happens is offense tanks this year and it was one of those things that’s talked about, it’s just grip, we don’t want to hit anybody. Then you look at it and hit by pitches are up through the roof this year. I think MLB is finally realizing that, alright, this is a big issue. We’ve got to address it and we’ve got to talk about it. I think finally they’ve noticed the issue and are making the adjustment to stop it.”
When asked if he believed the number of perpetrators was in the vicinity of 75 percent, Martinez added, "I’m going to say it’s probably up there somewhere. That wouldn’t surprise me, honestly. Like I said, they’d be dumb not to use it. it’s such an advantage for them and I think we’ve seen it this year, in the first couple of months of the season. In fact, when you have the whole league using it, versus a couple of guys, so, yeah."
Later in the interview, Martinez was asked why if he believed so many pitchers were using the substances he believed that his Red Sox teammates weren't part of the majority.
"I'm not sitting here trying to say every team is doing it," he said. "A lot more people are using it than aren't. That's why I said our guys, most of them pitch naked -- that's what they call it, by the way, pitching naked, so don't take it the wrong way. The guys who pitch normal everything will be fine. Nothing will change for them. It's the other ones who are really dependent on that stuff to have their success, and those are the ones exploiting the system and will be hurt by it."
Martinez is already having a stellar season for the Red Sox, hitting .307 with a .913 OPS and 13 home runs.