“More states have perished from the depravity of the traditions that for the violation of the laws”. Montesquieu
Major League Baseball is taking steps that instead of speeding up games are fueling bitter discussions now on the pitching shoreline.
Pitchers have not taken kindly to the new screening rules to look for foreign substances in their bodies, which has caused pitchers to look like hedgehogs.
On Tuesday at the Athletics and Rangers game, Sergio Romo of Oakland was seen to be upset that the umpires ran a check on him for illegal substances. After working a seventh inning with a run, the referee motioned for Romo to come over for a check-up. Romo responded instantly by throwing his cap, his glove on the ground and removing the strap. Then came Romo’s final act. He dropped his pants halfway to show that he was not harboring any illegal substances.
Romo reluctantly did his thing, but Dan Lassogna, the referee controlling him, didn’t seem too bothered by his antics. In fact, the referee smiled at Romo, whom the broadcast described as “heated.”
Romo wasn’t the only one to bother with Tuesday’s substance control. Max Scherzer was checked for foreign substances three times in the first four innings of the Nationals-Phillies game and became increasingly irritable with each test. He directed his anger at Phillies manager Joe Girardi, who was later ejected for insulting Scherzer. The checkups didn’t seem to upset the three-time Cy Young winner too much; he won, pitching five one-run innings and eight strikeouts.
Needless to say, these shenanigans will be quite common as MLB tries to implement these rule changes on the fly.
The “Saluted Ball” was a pitching that was banned on December 10, 1919, when the National League took severe measures, and ordered to condemn all pitchers who spit the ball before throwing it. The last to use it was right-hander Burleigh Grimes (1916-1934), of the Pirates, on September 20, 1934.
Gaylord Perry, who pitched for the Chosen in 1963-64, was a master resorting to Vaseline in the 22 seasons (1962-1983) he served in the majors. It was always suspected that he was hiding it in the brim of his cap.
Another ace on the mound who was accused of spitting the ball was Whitey Ford (1950-1967) of the Yankees, in addition, he had several oils to achieve his ends.
Perry and Ford were never caught, but right-hander Joe Niekro was caught on August 2, 1987.
Putting pine resin on it, two Dominican pitchers were discovered: Joel Peralta and Michael Pineda.
We are pending because there will be neither one nor two pitchers who will give their shows.
A DAY LIKE TODAY: 1996, Oh! On Henry’s Chocolate Bar Day in Montreal, he shoots two home runs to tie for the lead in the National League with 25. His Expos they beat the Pirates 11-3, nine of runs in the second inning. Rodríguez also adds a double.
1998, Cleveland Indians trade OF Geronimo Berroa to the Tigers Detroit for the pitcher Tim Worrell and the minor league player OF Dave Roberts.
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