The New York Yankees topped their bitter rivals, the Boston Red Sox Thursday to the tune of 4-1, but the storyline that came away from the game was the status of Michael Pineda.
Pineda was seen with a mysterious substance on his hand at different points early in the game, only to have it disappear in the 5th inning. The substance looks an awful lot like pine tar, which is a substance that is illegal for pitchers to use in the MLB. Pineda was spotted with a glob of the substance on the heel of his hand and it didn't look to be collecting on the ball
Here’s the goop on Pineda’s hand: pic.twitter.com/Axx9bHqs2n
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) April 11, 2014
#RedSox broadcasters @DonOrsillo and @Jerry_Remy talking about Pineda having pine tar on his hand. #Yankees pic.twitter.com/dvGIKzfPJH — Chris Cotillo (@ChrisCotillo) April 11, 2014
Reports are that pine tar can also be used to get a grip on colder nights, but other reports indicated that it was dirt. Fans' intelligence shouldn't be insulted by calling the substance on Pineda's hand dirt, but I will buy into the unwritten rules of baseball about getting grip on the ball.
Buster Olney went on to report that pine tar is only illegal if it collects on the ball with the purpose of altering the spin of the ball and that many players use it. The umpire has the final call in situations involving pine tar and nail files, but they saw nothing wrong with the state of the baseballs. Red Sox players commented on the situation after the game and said that players do use substances to get grip on the ball and they had no problem with it.
This is just the latest controversy that hits a sport that has become notorious for cheating and altering rules. If Pineda is guilty, expect swift justice, but with the umpires and players giving their approval is it really cheating?
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