10-day suspension caper

[Maxbialystock]

The general feeling is that many , if not most , pitchers were using something. Let's not all pile on Richards.

 

I think it's most, including most of the Sox pitchers, all of whom seem to be adjusting. Richards has also adjusted, but to little effect and apparently with the belief that this enforcement of an old rule is unfair. For $10M and future considerations, I would expect more effort and less whining.

[notin]

The general feeling is that many , if not most , pitchers were using something. Let's not all pile on Richards.

 

But we can all pile on Sergio Romo…

[Maxbialystock]

But we can all pile on Sergio Romo…

 

Romo did what comes naturally--or used to--to some MLB pitchers. Spaceman Bill Lee comes to mind. Also Dizzy Dean and Al Schacht.

[dgalehouse]

MLB has what is shaping up to be several really good divisional pennant races. But what is the big story? " Sticky stuff." I guess that is how to best promote the game and bring out the fans ?

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

MLB has what is shaping up to be several really good divisional pennant races. But what is the big story? " Sticky stuff." I guess that is how to best promote the game and bring out the fans ?

 

The MLB has put itself in a sticky situation with the fans. First, the MLB shocks fandom with a report blaming a league-wide practice on a very small terrorist cell of nefarious Houston villains, who led astray the poor Astros players (grown men apparently irresponsible for their own decisions). And now the league continues to tarnish its rep by actually trying to clean it up by banning another "tradition" -- according to Cole, NY -- smack-dab in the middle of a season.

 

It's not all Richards and Scherzer, but nobody is in the mood to hear millionaires bitching and moaning about it, either. And it certainly affects the pennant races, and obviously the fate of Boston... where we thought Bloom's admirable "grinders" on the mound were getting by on "grit" to overcame their lack of superstar talent (sorry, couldn't resist the pun).

[Maxbialystock]

The general feeling is that many , if not most , pitchers were using something. Let's not all pile on Richards.

 

I need to admit that maybe "cheater" is a little strong when most pitchers have been doing it. So, yeah, Richards may be a whiner, but everyone reacts differently. He obviously needs that great curveball and now can't trust it. I'd probably whine too.

[Maxbialystock]

After last night's gem by Pivetta--6.2 innings of no hit no run ball--and the bullpen--no earned runs in 2.1 innings--I'm beginning to think the Sox pitchers just might be able to adjust to not doctoring up the baseball. So too the Rays pitchers and probably the rest of MLB pitchers--except for the few exceptions like Garrett Richards who say they simply can't adjust.

 

I have also seen no reports of out of control pitchers beaning hitters. Pivetta threw 100+ pitches last night and so far has reported no permanent damage to his arm.

 

I enjoyed the earlier episode of Kershaw vs. Girardi, who looked very foolish trying to prove Kershaw was cheating. Likewise the San Diego pitcher who went a little too far in demonstrating he had no illegal substances on his belt, glove, etc. ​

 

Alternatively, of course, there could be a vast conspiracy between the pitchers, most of whom can afford paying into a bribery pot, and the umpires. Perhaps Joe Girardi can enlighten us on that possibility.

[Kimmi]

The general feeling is that many , if not most , pitchers were using something. Let's not all pile on Richards.

 

I'm not piling on Richards for using a substance. I'm piling on him for his defeatist attitude after the fact. He's not, by far, the only pitcher going through this adjustment. Many pitchers are still pitching very well. He sounds like he has already given up on being able to pitch well for the rest of the season. It's time for an attitude check.

[Maxbialystock]

I'm not piling on Richards for using a substance. I'm piling on him for his defeatist attitude after the fact. He's not, by far, the only pitcher going through this adjustment. Many pitchers are still pitching very well. He sounds like he has already given up on being able to pitch well for the rest of the season. It's time for an attitude check.

 

Exactly. A few others have done some moaning and groaning as well. But the majority seem to be either adjusting well or determined to do so.

[Larry Cook]

In the words of Toby Mac, “help is on the way!”

 

Sale still looking pretty good in his recovery. Do not know what we can expect from him, but even if 90 percent of his pre injury self, that is better than some of the starters we got now.

[Bellhorn04]

A little early to say, but maybe this sticky crackdown is going to work out after all. We're still seeing some dominant pitching performances. Eovaldi pitched his best game of the year.

 

Things could get interesting when the temperatures drop again, though.

[notin]

Romo did what comes naturally--or used to--to some MLB pitchers. Spaceman Bill Lee comes to mind. Also Dizzy Dean and Al Schacht.

 

And non-pitcher Steve Lyons!!

[dgalehouse]

It's really ludicrous watching pitchers being searched as they leave the mound. I think the umpires know this , but they are being required to do it. It's just ridiculous. That's what happens when the man in charge of MLB does not know what he is doing. Manfred is clueless.

[notin]

It's really ludicrous watching pitchers being searched as they leave the mound. I think the umpires know this , but they are being required to do it. It's just ridiculous. That's what happens when the man in charge of MLB does not know what he is doing. Manfred is clueless.

 

While true, watching Gerrit Cole flummox around on the mound now does give me a smile, thinking he still has 7 years and $252 million left on his contract after this season...

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

While true, watching Gerrit Cole flummox around on the mound now does give me a smile, thinking he still has 7 years and $252 million left on his contract after this season...

 

Maybe Cashman can find a salary dump in Boston. Of course, Bloom would insist we also get Jasson Dominguez.

[Kimmi]

It's really ludicrous watching pitchers being searched as they leave the mound. I think the umpires know this , but they are being required to do it. It's just ridiculous. That's what happens when the man in charge of MLB does not know what he is doing. Manfred is clueless.

 

IMO, MLB is handling this situation very poorly. It's just not a good look to see the umpires checking pitchers as they walk off the field.

[Kimmi]

While true, watching Gerrit Cole flummox around on the mound now does give me a smile, thinking he still has 7 years and $252 million left on his contract after this season...

 

If I were a Yankee fan, I wouldn't be so concerned about Cole's recent results. However, I would be deeply concerned about the remaining years of his contract, which take him into his late 30s.

 

That said, it was kind of fun watching Cole flummox around on the mound last night.

[notin]

I was listening to MLB Network this morning and Steve Phillips commented about how Manfred warmed teams in spring training that the crackdown on foreign substances would be implemented this year. Phillips also commented that it’s ludicrous to blame the Commissioner when the actual onus is on the players.

 

There is a lot of sense in this. I’ve never heard of any defense attorney in court saying the actual blame is on the government for passing a law his client broke. “Your honor, if the state of Illinois hadn’t passed a law making it illegal to fish while sitting on a giraffe, we wouldn’t be here today.” But here we are blaming to commissioner for enforcing laws that pitchers cannot do stuff they were never supposed to do in the first place.

 

Manfred is still an idiot, but for other reasons…

[notin]

IMO, MLB is handling this situation very poorly. It's just not a good look to see the umpires checking pitchers as they walk off the field.

 

But what about the pitchers doing it in the first place? If pitchers never did this, none of the follow up checks would be happening…

[5GoldGlovesOF,75]

I was listening to MLB Network this morning and Steve Phillips commented about how Manfred warmed teams in spring training that the crackdown on foreign substances would be implemented this year. Phillips also commented that it’s ludicrous to blame the Commissioner when the actual onus is on the players.

 

There is a lot of sense in this. I’ve never heard of any defense attorney in court saying the actual blame is on the government for passing a law his client broke. “Your honor, if the state of Illinois hadn’t passed a law making it illegal to fish while sitting on a giraffe, we wouldn’t be here today.” But here we are blaming to commissioner for enforcing laws that pitchers cannot do stuff they were never supposed to do in the first place.

 

Manfred is still an idiot, but for other reasons…

 

Now I have this image of a giraffe with a Michael Pineda pine tar neck I can't erase...

[Kimmi]

But what about the pitchers doing it in the first place? If pitchers never did this, none of the follow up checks would be happening…

 

Part of the problem is that this has been going on in a widespread fashion for years. MLB more or less ignored it, except for a few blatant cases. If there is a long-standing rule that pitchers are not allowed to use foreign substances, why is it just now being enforced?

 

No, the pitchers should not be doing it in the first place. But MLB should also have not allowed it to happen for so long, then suddenly do an about face on enforcing the rule.

[notin]

Part of the problem is that this has been going on in a widespread fashion for years. MLB more or less ignored it, except for a few blatant cases. If there is a long-standing rule that pitchers are not allowed to use foreign substances, why is it just now being enforced?

 

No, the pitchers should not be doing it in the first place. But MLB should also have not allowed it to happen for so long, then suddenly do an about face on enforcing the rule.

 

There are extremely long standing rules, going back to 1920. Should it have been enforced before? Yes, as enforcement has historically been sporadic. But even then, lack of enforcement isn’t an excuse.

 

Now MLB does need something to help pitcher grip. It’s a legitimate safety issue. But a lack of enforcement still isn’t an excuse for knowingly breaking the rules….

[Kimmi]

There are extremely long standing rules, going back to 1920. Should it have been enforced before? Yes, as enforcement has historically been sporadic. But even then, lack of enforcement isn’t an excuse.

 

Now MLB does need something to help pitcher grip. It’s a legitimate safety issue. But a lack of enforcement still isn’t an excuse for knowingly breaking the rules….

 

Don't get me wrong. I don't think that pitchers have the right to act like victims in this seemingly sudden crackdown. But I also don't think it's right for MLB to have turned a blind eye on the situation for so long, then begin enforcing the rule midseason.

[notin]

Don't get me wrong. I don't think that pitchers have the right to act like victims in this seemingly sudden crackdown. But I also don't think it's right for MLB to have turned a blind eye on the situation for so long, then begin enforcing the rule midseason.

 

 

Which raises the question - just because a rule isn’t being enforced, is it acceptable to ignore it?

[mvp 78]

Which raises the question - just because a rule isn’t being enforced, is it acceptable to ignore it?

 

This seems to be a legal question. A700?

[Bellhorn04]

Which raises the question - just because a rule isn’t being enforced, is it acceptable to ignore it?

 

An unenforced rule is the same as no rule.

[mvp 78]

An unenforced rule is the same as no rule.

 

From what I've read, some judges disagree with this assertion.

[Maxbialystock]

IMO, MLB is handling this situation very poorly. It's just not a good look to see the umpires checking pitchers as they walk off the field.

 

Completely disagree. The Commish warned everyone in spring training this was going to happen. And there is no effective way to check pitchers for foreign substances without physically inspecting cap, glove, belt, whatever on the field of play.

 

Indeed, the reason why pitchers flouted the rule all this time is they weren't being checked.

 

I thought the umpires were going to catch a bunch of guys, but so far it looks as though: 1) almost all pitchers are abiding by the rule; 2) most of them are discovering they can still get hitters out without spotrac or whatever it's call.

 

Even the worst of the worst, Garrett Richards, went 4.1 shutout innings last night after getting hammered for 5 runs in the first 1.1 innings.

 

Plus, I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of liked how Joe Girardi went completely ape trying to get Kershaw--who had to submit to three inspections--nailed for using foreign substances and failed completely and got thrown out of the game.

[Bellhorn04]

Plus, I don't know about anyone else, but I kind of liked how Joe Girardi went completely ape trying to get Kershaw--who had to submit to three inspections--nailed for using foreign substances and failed completely and got thrown out of the game.

 

Why did you like it? It may have been entertaining, but I fail to see how it achieved anything except possibly making himself look like a nutjob.

[notin]

An unenforced rule is the same as no rule.

 

I disagree with that in principle. But I certainly see why it happens.

 

Perfect example MLB rule 5.07© regarding pitch clock and pace of play…