Summary

The article discusses the historical and ongoing role of deception in baseball, including the use of "goo balls" and other tactics to gain a competitive edge.

Abstract

The piece titled "The Demise of the Spitball is Greatly Exaggerated" delves into the longstanding tradition of cheating in baseball, a practice that is almost as old as the game itself. It highlights the various methods pitchers have employed to deceive batters, such as doctoring the baseball with substances like saliva, petroleum jelly, or pine tar to alter its trajectory. The article suggests that these tactics are an integral part of the game's strategy, despite the outrage they may provoke. It also touches on the financial incentives for players to seek any advantage, the public's fascination with scandal, and the Hall of Fame recognition of players like Gaylord Perry, who were known for their deceptive practices. The author, Douglas Pilarski, argues that these acts of deception are merely part of the game, contributing to its excitement and unpredictability.

Opinions

Cheating in baseball, while often frowned upon, is seen as a natural part of the competitive nature of the sport.
The use of substances to alter the baseball is a time-honored tradition that adds to the complexity and strategy of the game.
The public's interest in baseball tends to increase with controversy and scandal, which can be beneficial for the sport's popularity.
Players and managers accept the presence of deceptive practices as a given, understanding that it is part of the game's flow.
The article implies that the financial stakes in professional baseball justify the means players use to gain a competitive edge.
The author suggests that the element of surprise and deception gives pitchers a necessary advantage over batters.
The induction of known cheaters into the Baseball Hall of Fame indicates a level of acceptance of these practices within the baseball community.
Intimidation tactics, such as throwing at batters or employing quirky deliveries, are considered part of the game's strategic psychological warfare.
The article humorously implies that even silly songs chanted by fans can be a form of gamesmanship, contributing to the home team's advantage.

The Demise of the Spitball is Greatly Exaggerated

How about that?

Spitballs? You bet!

If you are new to the game and are surprised to see the umpires check the hat and glove of the pitcher as they come off the mound, none of what you saw at the ballyard this afternoon is new. Doctoring the pelota has been around since before Shoeless Joe helped fix the 1919 series.

Cheating is so much a part of the game, it’s almost too strong of a word. Cheating in baseball spans decades.

Baseball is a competition. Naturally, every competitor is aware of the value of the competitive advantage.

Strategy is involved. How many times have you seen a manager go to the bullpen in a tight game then bring in a lefty for just one pitch?

That’s strategy! Winning in baseball means you have a strategy and can execute it. It is a game of situations.

You can buy the same suntan lotion the pros use to doctor the baseball online from Amazon. AND probably get it delivered the same day.

Major League Baseball chooses to emphasize and focus on this or that, depending on the year and the need. Right now, as the stadiums fill up and teams recover from the misery of the last 16 months, controversy is king. Controversy and scandals create interest in the game. Remember the packed grandstands when Sammy, Barry, and Mark couldn’t keep it in the park? If Goo Balls put butts in the bleachers, then we’ll go with that.

Just remember the real golden rule applies to baseball just like every other competitive pursuit. Follow the money!

Over the years, Goo Balls have earned nicknames like shiners, spitters, wet ones, goobers, and mudders. Some pitchers were known to scuff the ball with emery paper or modify the rotation of the ball with saliva, petroleum jelly, pine tar, or other substance.

In every case, deception was- and is- is the key ingredient in the pitcher’s success. No need for anyone but the pitcher to know what’s coming. The element of surprise gives the pitcher an advantage.

Ballplayers are millionaires. Every single one of them is under contract. They make obscene money in trade for hours of stretching, loosening the arm, taking some swings, and a little hustle here and there. They know what side their bread is buttered on.

Cheating is built into the flow of every game! You don’t notice it.

There is an appropriate amount of outrage when a corked bat explodes- and players don’t want to look bad swinging at mudder. Beyond that, players are sort of expressionless when it comes to controversy. Why? Players need to go out and play nine regardless. I think the feeling is if the pitcher is loading up the ball. It is what it is. Fans may be upset at first. In the end, they want to see runs, hits, and errors. Fans want to see their favorite hitter jack the ball deep to left.

Gaylord Perry won two Cy Young awards and racked up 300 plus wins. He played for eight teams over a career of 22 years. He never denied using a little saliva to his advantage. Perry was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.

The game ebbs and flows. The average game is nine innings, 27 outs per side, anywhere from 1–15 hits, anywhere from 1–12 or so runs, and enough stats to slow down a Tesla as it escapes the earth’s atmosphere. Maybe a guy makes a play behind second, climbs the wall in left, and gloves a homer, or Baltimore chops the runner in from third. Seriously, what is better than a bloop and a blast when it’s YOUR team?

The following could be considered cheating. If you stopped a team every time they tried to get an advantage, you would ruin the game. Here are some examples.

Ooops, I Broke My Bat

Sammy Sosa didn’t mean to break his bat in a 2003 game against the Devil Rays. But he did. The entire stadium learned about Sammy’s corked bat. Corked bats make the ball jump off the barrel. The cork transforms a long fly out into a fence clearing homer. Corking a bat is mean. Cork in the bat gives the hitter an advantage. It is just part of the game.

And now, it’s time for a little chin music. Whitey Ford had a special treat reserved for you when you return to the batter’s box after hitting a home run off him in an earlier inning. The Yankee ace would throw it at your head. He didn’t mean to, of course, it’s just the ball seemed to run up and under the batter’s chin. Call it a brush-back pitch. If the batter didn’t get out of the way, well you could just imagine. Throwing at the hitter is mean. Scaring the hitter is an advantage. It is just part of the game.

Intimidation- Juuust a little inside! How about Bob Gibson, Don Drysdale, RandyJohnson, Nolan Ryan, Sandy Koufax (perfect curveball), Fernando Valenzuela, Hideo Nomo, and others who are just plain scary standing on the mound. Just 60 feet, 6 inches away, these pitchers were feared. A quirky delivery hides the release point of the ball until the last second and confuses the hitter. Confusing the hitter is mean. Confusing the hitter is an advantage. It is just part of the game.

Stealing Signs. Kids in Little League learn this. Every base runner taking a lead off second can see the catcher signal the next pitch. One finger for a fastball, two for a curve, three for a slider, and so on. Maybe the catcher touches his mask immediately after putting down two fingers to cancel the pitch. Mixing up the signals, or canceling the sign confuses the runner on second. That’s mean! It is just part of the game.

Here’s how the cheat works. The runner steals the sign, places his right hand over his knee, the third base coach touches the bill of his cap and transmits FASTBALL to the hitter. It is just part of the game. Confusing the runner on second is mean and gives the pitcher an advantage. It is just part of the game.

Silly songs

Hey, batter! Hey, batter! No batter! No batter! — swing batter!

Then it goes faster and louder

HEYB HEYB HEYB NOB NOB NOB SA-WIIIIING Batta!

Confusing the batter by chanting silly songs is mean and gives the pitcher an advantage. It is just part of the game.

Don’t get me started on Fake throws, blocking the plate, and hiding the ball. Mean, mean, mean!

You must remember this!

The pitcher has a rubber nose, wiggles every time he throws.

photo by public domain pictures via Pixabay

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Douglas Pilarski is a journalist living in Portland. He covers luxury goods, lifestyle, exotic cars, CJ-CX, workplace issues, food, horology, and tech.

[email protected]

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