Breaking the rules?

Cue George Costanza and the cleaning lady ... Michael Jackson and the dangling baby ...

While it is against the rules, it's actually a reasonable question. Despite the name, spit is the only substance a pitcher can legally apply to the baseball. Now, one can't do it by directly expectorating on the ball, or while on the mound (unless in cold weather), but pitchers repeatedly and legally lick their fingers while off the mound and then rub that substance onto the baseball. It's not unreasonable to wonder why reversing the process (spitting on the ball, then rubbing it in with the fingers) is verboten.

Did the umpires know?

pitchers repeatedly and legally lick their fingers while off the mound and then rub that substance onto the baseball.

I thought the rule was you can't go mouth to ball. If you lick your fingers, you gotta wipe.

I thought the rule was you can't go mouth to ball. If you lick your fingers, you gotta wipe.

You must at least pretend to wipe your fingers off before you step on the mound, yes.

"I forgot."

I thought the rule was you can't go mouth to ball.

Same BS my date last night told me.

#2: Krusty the Clown and betting on sporting events ...

First of all he made no effort to hide what he was doing so he's sort of believable.

Second: Why the hell was he not contacted by MLB on this?

"I forgot armed robbery is illegal in this state".

Oh, I bet that's what @7 is.

Easy to understand the confusion. "Hold on. So it's perfectly OK for me to take sunscreen from my arm and some rosin and load up but spitting on the ball is a no-no? What a country!"