Donaldson gives Giolito his spin on sticky stuff comments
CHICAGO (AP) â Twins slugger Josh Donaldson says he gave White Sox ace Lucas Giolito the face-to-face meeting he wanted after Giolito took exception to a sticky allegation from Donaldson during Tuesdayâs game.
Donaldson appeared to yell ânot sticky anymoreâ after hitting a first-inning homer during Chicago's 7-6 victory on Tuesday. The 2015 AL MVP rubbed his hands together after touching home, suggesting that Giolito had benefitted from the use of foreign substances prior to Major League Baseball's crackdown last week.
The 35-year-old Donaldson has been among baseballâs most outspoken hitters against the use of illicit grip enhancers by pitchers, which can generate more spin â and therefore more movement.
Giolito called Donaldson an â(expletive) pestâ Tuesday night and said the home run celebration was a âclassless move." He also said the three-time All-Star should talk to Giolito directly to his face.
Donaldson said they did just that at Guaranteed Rate Field as the teams left the ballpark Tuesday.
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âHe didnât have really much to say,â Donaldson said before Wednesday nightâs rain-delayed game.
Giolito didnât speak with media on Wednesday. Donaldson, however, had plenty to say.
âI said, âSo what? Iâm on the opposing team,'â Donaldson said of his session with Giolito. "'What do you care about me?' I said, âIâm in your face. Iâm telling you what I think. What have you got to say about that?â And he didnât have any response.â
Donaldson said he was calling out to his dugout after the homer, trying to fire up the Twins, who have languished near the bottom of the AL Central.
âI wasnât pimping my home run,â Donaldson said. âMy intention was not to show up Lucas Giolito.â
Donaldson said Giolitoâs reaction âspeaks more about the looming question thatâs going on, which is, was he using sticky stuff before all of this happened in the first place?â
Donaldson said he had been tracking âlike 150 guysâ on a list of pitchers whose spin rates had been increasing in recent years, giving them livelier pitches.
While he acknowledged Giolitoâs talent, Donaldson said the righty was on his list. Following baseballâs crackdown, Donaldson claimed the numbers show it.
âGuess what Mr. Giolito? Your fastball spin rate is down 200,â Donaldson said. âYouâre curveball spin rate is down 400 or 500. Your slider is down 200.â
The spin rate on Giolito's fastball Tuesday averaged 2,239 rotations per minute, down 237 RPM from a start June 16. His curveball dropped 503 RPM and his slider lost 253 RPM in that same span.
Giolito rebounded after giving up Donaldsonâs two-run first inning shot and pitched six-plus innings of three-run ball to earn his first win in a month. Donaldson said the righty wasnât as dominant as in the past.
âI didnât see any swings and misses on fastballs up yesterday where he normally gets swings and misses up there and he gets check swings up there, where you get that hopping effect from the spin rate,â Donaldson said. âI felt like, overall, he was able to manage and still pitch and do his job. But I felt like offensively, we were right there.â
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