Mets' Chris Bassitt Says 'MLB Doesn't Give a Damn' About Issues With Baseball Grip

New York Mets starting pitcher Chris Bassitt expressed his belief Tuesday that Major League Baseball isn't doing enough to address the issues pitchers are having gripping the baseball.

According to Tim Healey of Newsday, Bassitt said: "MLB has a very big problem with the baseballs. They're bad. Everyone knows it. Every pitcher in the league knows it. They're bad. They don't care. MLB doesn't give a damn."

Bassitt's comments came after five batters were hit by a pitch during the Mets' 3-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday.

Although Bassitt is enjoying an excellent first season with the Mets, posting a 3-1 record and 2.25 ERA in his first four starts, even he had a bit of a control issue Tuesday with three walks and one hit batsman.

First baseman Pete Alonso also got in the head by a pitch from Cards reliever Kodi Whitley:

Alonso was fine and stayed in the game, but it marked the second time in this young season that he took a pitch off the helmet.

The issue of pitchers gripping the ball came to the forefront last season when MLB cracked down on the use of foreign substances.

A specific sticky substance called Spider Tack was believed to be used by many major league pitchers, but with umpires checking pitchers periodically throughout the game, they can no longer utilize it.

Now, pitchers are essentially relegated to using rosin, which oftentimes doesn't provide the grip they need.

The Mets have been on the receiving end of the grip issue more than any other team this season, with 18 hit batsmen in 19 games.