This is an area I don’t really understand. They have rosin bags - does this mean the team or player is substituting a different mixture into the rosin bag or is this like a Gaylord Perry, hide it on your body thing ?

Or do the catchers hide it like on molinas chest protector

Definitively debunks the myth of clean Cole.

Duke - Yeah that's been my confusion over this too. I think it's the Pineda thing, no one really cares as long as you aren't blatant and stupid about it. Actually I've read that some hitters are happy for the pitchers to have a little better grip since they aren't keen on someone throwing 98MPH and having the ball slip out of their hand in the direction of the hitter's head.

This is an area I don’t really understand. They have rosin bags - does this mean the team or player is substituting a different mixture into the rosin bag or is this like a Gaylord Perry, hide it on your body thing ?

Or do the catchers hide it like on molinas chest protector

I think all of the above.

I understand its hidden on the body or equipment. On the hat, on the arm, glove or uniform.

Just watch the pitcher and where he touches before every pitch.

Actually I've read that some hitters are happy for the pitchers to have a little better grip since they aren't keen on someone throwing 98MPH and having the ball slip out of their hand in the direction of the hitter's head.

I have heard this too, but isn't this also likely the cause of greater spin rates which help velocity and movement and likely have an impact on rising strikeout rates?

#6 That's my question, too. If this is just a better version of a rosin bag, that's fine. If it allows pitchers to significantly increase spin rate it shouldn't be allowed.

Pathetic. Good organizations sometimes hire cheaters too, but they at least hire ones who help the home team.

Is this kind of cheating not really a big deal?

Bauer called this out a few years back, said he wasn't doing it but Cole and others were and getting an advantage. Minor news ripple then it dies.

Now in his FA year Bauer increases his spin rate 250rpm across the board, wins the Cy. Basically if no one's going to do anything then I'll do it too and get paid.

WHERE HAVE I SEEN THAT BEFORE IN SAN FRANCISCO'S LEFT FIELD?

At least this one isn't going to cause high school kids to shrivel their own balls I guess. Still, it would be nice to have some sort of accountability somewhere in life.

9. This is one that seems like a matter of degree. And in situations like that, it’s hard to know where to draw a line. Sounds like the league is trying though which is why this guy got fired. Blame the pilot

Why don’t the Angels settle these matters quietly like normal billion dollar businesses? Does Moreno has some sort of humiliation fetish?

Wasn't there some odd story about how everyone who went to Houston increased the spin rate on their pitches? Could this be how?

And if you're a hitter, do you want pitchers to be able to throw sharper breaking pitches?

I thought Alex Rodriguez was the only cheater on baseball, but it turned out to find a cheater you just need to locate a baseball player.

I thought any form of cheating was okay?

Actually I've read that some hitters are happy for the pitchers to have a little better grip since they aren't keen on someone throwing 98MPH and having the ball slip out of their hand in the direction of the hitter's head.

Have you seen any hitters say this? I've only seen pitchers proffer this rationale.

Have you seen any hitters say this? I've only seen pitchers proffer this rationale.

Exactly.

In some April game in Cleveland where the temperature is a few degrees below the freezing mark, the hitters are probably fine if the pitcher is able to get a little better grip on the ball. In Los Angeles, they're not really worried that Gerrit Cole's fastball is going to slip unless he gets some help.

Why is a clubhouse attendant in another city helping Cole get substances? Forget cheating, this seems...very stupid. Odd. Weird. Inexplicable. I can't really wrap my head around it.

I've never thought Cole was clean - he was on the Astros, after all - but would have assumed that whatever substances he was using he would have sourced himself.

Imagine Bonds writing ahead to LA asking the clubhouse guy to score him some clear. Wouldn't make any sense.

He is the visiting clubhouse attendant. So his day-to-day during the season is dealing with opposing players. I'm sure its a weird dynamic to be paid by the Angels and work with visitors every day.

The openness he felt is providing this stuff both to Angels and visitors indicates what the vibe was in MLB. It was a baseball tool that players needed, so it was his job to give it to them.

isn't this also likely the cause of greater spin rates

That is Trevor Bauer's argument

no one really cares as long as you aren't blatant and stupid about it

Jay Howell in the 88 NLCS

Banning this stuff always seems like the easiest way to reduce strikeouts, to me.

Why is a clubhouse attendant in another city helping Cole get substances? Forget cheating, this seems...very stupid. Odd. Weird. Inexplicable. I can't really wrap my head around it.

Clubbies get paid so very very little by their own team that they are reliant on tips from the players.

OK, so how much has some one got to make before they won't cut corners, lie on their taxes, stiff employees/venders/sell pills on the side/whatever to make some more? Sure the pay's lousy, but is it ever enough?