Saturday, April 12, 2014

Cheating: batter/pitcher; on field/PED.

The Yankees and Red Sox just split the first two of four games at Yankee Stadium.  Michael Pineda won for the Yankees, then Jon Lester for the Red Sox.  Both were shown on camera with banned stuff, Pineda in that game, Lester in 2013.  No one seemed to care very much.  When asked about Pineda after his team had lost, Red Sox manager John Farrell seemed like he wanted to discuss anything but that.

My understanding is that stuff is banned, in part, to make the game more safe, that pitchers may not be able to control the direction of their pitches with stuff on their hands.  "Spitters" were banned after Ray Chapman was killed in 1920 by a pitched ball thrown by Carl Mays.

Don Drysdale on "The Donna Reed Show"
episode "The Man in the Mask" May 10, 1962
ABC Television via Wikimedia Commons
Of course, enforcement has been restrained and timid.  Maybe Don Drysdale would be commanded to wipe himself with a towel in the 1960s to remove Vaseline from his body and uniform.  Gaylord Perry cheated, then wrote a book about it during his career, stating that he had stopped.  Both were elected to the Hall of Fame.

Pitchers seem to get all the advantages.  No batter has more than about 42 at bats in a season and a batting average of at least .500.  Yet, pitchers get the benefit of the doubt.  Here, take a look at the lists below and consider which players you think of as villains.  500 home runs and 2,500 strike outs.
Rk Player HR From To Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos Tm
1 Barry Bonds 762 1986 2007 21-42 2986 12606 9847 2227 2935 601 77 1996 2558 688 1539 106 4 91 165 514 141 .298 .444 .607 1.051 *78H/D9 PIT-SFG
2 Hank Aaron 755 1954 1976 20-42 3298 13941 12364 2174 3771 624 98 2297 1402 293 1383 32 21 121 328 240 73 .305 .374 .555 .928 *9783DH/45 MLN-ATL-MIL
3 Babe Ruth 714 1914 1935 19-40 2504 10622 8399 2174 2873 506 136 2220 2062 1330 43 113 2 123 117 .342 .474 .690 1.164 971/H83 BOS-NYY-BSN
4 Willie Mays 660 1951 1973 20-42 2992 12496 10881 2062 3283 523 140 1903 1464 192 1526 44 13 91 251 338 103 .302 .384 .557 .941 *8H/39675 NYG-SFG-TOT-NYM
5 Alex Rodriguez 654 1994 2013 18-37 2568 11344 9818 1919 2939 519 30 1969 1240 92 2075 169 16 101 240 322 76 .299 .384 .558 .942 65D/H SEA-TEX-NYY
6 Ken Griffey 630 1989 2010 19-40 2671 11304 9801 1662 2781 524 38 1836 1312 246 1779 81 8 102 199 184 69 .284 .370 .538 .907 *89DH/73 SEA-CIN-TOT
7 Jim Thome 612 1991 2012 20-41 2543 10313 8422 1583 2328 451 26 1699 1747 173 2548 69 1 74 165 19 20 .276 .402 .554 .956 3D5H CLE-PHI-CHW-TOT-MIN
8 Sammy Sosa 609 1989 2007 20-38 2354 9896 8813 1475 2408 379 45 1667 929 154 2306 59 17 78 202 234 107 .273 .344 .534 .878 *98D/H7 TOT-CHW-CHC-BAL-TEX
9 Frank Robinson 586 1956 1976 20-40 2808 11742 10006 1829 2943 528 72 1812 1420 218 1532 198 17 102 270 204 77 .294 .389 .537 .926 97D3H8/5 CIN-BAL-LAD-CAL-TOT-CLE
10 Mark McGwire 583 1986 2001 22-37 1874 7660 6187 1167 1626 252 6 1414 1317 150 1596 75 3 78 147 12 8 .263 .394 .588 .982 *3/HD59 OAK-TOT-STL
11 Harmon Killebrew 573 1954 1975 18-39 2435 9833 8147 1283 2086 290 24 1584 1559 160 1699 48 0 77 243 19 18 .256 .376 .509 .884 357DH/49 WSH-MIN-KCR
12 Rafael Palmeiro 569 1986 2005 21-40 2831 12046 10472 1663 3020 585 38 1835 1353 172 1348 87 15 119 232 97 40 .288 .371 .515 .885 *3D7/H98 CHC-TEX-BAL
13 Reggie Jackson 563 1967 1987 21-41 2820 11418 9864 1551 2584 463 49 1702 1375 164 2597 96 13 68 183 228 115 .262 .356 .490 .846 *9D8H/7 KCA-OAK-BAL-NYY-CAL
14 Manny Ramirez 555 1993 2011 21-39 2302 9774 8244 1544 2574 547 20 1831 1329 216 1813 109 2 90 243 38 33 .312 .411 .585 .996 79D/H CLE-BOS-LAD-TOT-TBR
15 Mike Schmidt 548 1972 1989 22-39 2404 10062 8352 1506 2234 408 59 1595 1507 201 1883 79 16 108 156 174 92 .267 .380 .527 .908 *53/H64 PHI
16 Mickey Mantle 536 1951 1968 19-36 2401 9907 8102 1676 2415 344 72 1509 1733 126 1710 13 14 47 113 153 38 .298 .421 .557 .977 *8397H/645 NYY
17 Jimmie Foxx 534 1925 1945 17-37 2317 9676 8134 1751 2646 458 125 1922 1452 1311 13 71 69 87 73 .325 .428 .609 1.038 *35H2/7916 PHA-BOS-TOT-CHC-PHI
18 Frank Thomas 521 1990 2008 22-40 2322 10075 8199 1494 2468 495 12 1704 1667 168 1397 87 0 121 226 32 23 .301 .419 .555 .974 *D3/H CHW-OAK-TOR-TOT
19 Willie McCovey 521 1959 1980 21-42 2588 9692 8197 1229 2211 353 46 1555 1345 260 1550 69 5 70 176 26 22 .270 .374 .515 .889 *3H7/9D SFG-SDP-TOT
20 Ted Williams 521 1939 1960 20-41 2292 9788 7706 1798 2654 525 71 1839 2021 86 709 39 5 20 197 24 17 .344 .482 .634 1.116 *79H/1 BOS
21 Ernie Banks 512 1953 1971 22-40 2528 10394 9421 1305 2583 407 90 1636 763 198 1236 70 45 96 229 50 53 .274 .330 .500 .830 36/H57 CHC
22 Eddie Mathews 512 1952 1968 20-36 2391 10100 8537 1509 2315 354 72 1453 1444 107 1487 26 36 58 123 68 39 .271 .376 .509 .885 *53/H7 BSN-MLN-ATL-TOT-DET
23 Mel Ott 511 1926 1947 17-38 2730 11348 9456 1859 2876 488 72 1860 1708 896 64 109 82 89 .304 .414 .533 .947 *95H8/74 NYG
24 Gary Sheffield 509 1988 2009 19-40 2576 10947 9217 1636 2689 467 27 1676 1475 130 1171 135 9 111 235 253 104 .292 .393 .514 .907 975D/6H3 MIL-SDP-FLA-TOT-LAD-ATL-NYY-DET-NYM
25 Eddie Murray 504 1977 1997 21-41 3026 12817 11336 1627 3255 560 35 1917 1333 222 1516 18 2 128 315 110 43 .287 .359 .476 .836 *3D/H57 BAL-LAD-NYM-CLE-TOT
Rk Player HR From To Age G PA AB R H 2B 3B RBI BB IBB SO HBP SH SF GDP SB CS BA OBP SLG OPS Pos Tm
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 4/12/2014.
Rk Player SO From To Age G GS CG SHO GF W L W-L% SV IP H R ER BB ERA ERA+ HR BF IBB HBP BK WP Tm
1 Nolan Ryan 5714 1966 1993 19-46 807 773 222 61 13 324 292 .526 3 5386.0 3923 2178 1911 2795 3.19 112 321 22575 78 158 33 277 NYM-CAL-HOU-TEX
2 Randy Johnson 4875 1988 2009 24-45 618 603 100 37 7 303 166 .646 2 4135.1 3346 1703 1513 1497 3.29 135 411 17067 37 190 33 109 MON-TOT-SEA-ARI-NYY-SFG
3 Roger Clemens 4672 1984 2007 21-44 709 707 118 46 0 354 184 .658 0 4916.2 4185 1885 1707 1580 3.12 143 363 20240 63 159 20 143 BOS-TOR-NYY-HOU
4 Steve Carlton 4136 1965 1988 20-43 741 709 254 55 13 329 244 .574 2 5217.2 4672 2130 1864 1833 3.22 115 414 21683 150 53 90 183 STL-PHI-TOT-MIN
5 Bert Blyleven 3701 1970 1992 19-41 692 685 242 60 3 287 250 .534 0 4970.0 4632 2029 1830 1322 3.31 118 430 20491 71 155 19 114 MIN-TOT-TEX-PIT-CLE-CAL
6 Tom Seaver 3640 1967 1986 22-41 656 647 231 61 6 311 205 .603 1 4783.0 3971 1674 1521 1390 2.86 127 380 19369 116 76 8 126 NYM-TOT-CIN-CHW
7 Don Sutton 3574 1966 1988 21-43 774 756 178 58 12 324 256 .559 5 5282.1 4692 2104 1914 1343 3.26 108 472 21631 102 82 21 112 HOU-TOT-MIL-CAL-LAD
8 Gaylord Perry 3534 1962 1983 23-44 777 690 303 53 33 314 265 .542 11 5350.0 4938 2128 1846 1379 3.11 117 399 21953 164 108 6 160 SFG-CLE-TOT-TEX-SDP-ATL-SEA
9 Walter Johnson 3509 1907 1927 19-39 802 666 531 110 127 417 279 .599 34 5914.1 4913 1902 1424 1363 2.17 147 97 23405 205 4 154 WSH
10 Greg Maddux 3371 1986 2008 20-42 744 740 109 35 3 355 227 .610 0 5008.1 4726 1981 1756 999 3.16 132 353 20421 177 137 28 70 CHC-ATL-TOT-SDP
11 Phil Niekro 3342 1964 1987 25-48 864 716 245 45 83 318 274 .537 29 5404.0 5044 2337 2012 1809 3.35 115 482 22677 86 123 42 226 MLN-ATL-NYY-CLE-TOT
12 Fergie Jenkins 3192 1965 1983 22-40 664 594 267 49 37 284 226 .557 7 4500.2 4142 1853 1669 997 3.34 115 484 18400 116 84 18 62 PHI-TOT-CHC-TEX-BOS
13 Pedro Martinez 3154 1992 2009 20-37 476 409 46 17 23 219 100 .687 3 2827.1 2221 1006 919 760 2.93 154 239 11394 30 141 6 62 LAD-MON-BOS-NYM-PHI
14 Bob Gibson 3117 1959 1975 23-39 528 482 255 56 21 251 174 .591 6 3884.1 3279 1420 1258 1336 2.91 127 257 16068 118 102 13 108 STL
15 Curt Schilling 3116 1988 2007 21-40 569 436 83 20 81 216 146 .597 22 3261.0 2998 1318 1253 711 3.46 127 347 13284 43 52 8 72 BAL-HOU-PHI-TOT-ARI-BOS
16 John Smoltz 3084 1988 2009 21-42 723 481 53 16 204 213 155 .579 154 3473.0 3074 1391 1284 1010 3.33 125 288 14271 84 57 16 145 ATL-TOT
17 Jim Bunning 2855 1955 1971 23-39 591 519 151 40 39 224 184 .549 16 3760.1 3433 1527 1366 1000 3.27 115 372 15618 98 160 8 47 DET-PHI-PIT-TOT
18 Mickey Lolich 2832 1963 1979 22-38 586 496 195 41 40 217 191 .532 11 3638.1 3366 1537 1390 1099 3.44 104 347 15140 67 92 8 124 DET-NYM-SDP
19 Mike Mussina 2813 1991 2008 22-39 537 536 57 23 0 270 153 .638 0 3562.2 3460 1559 1458 785 3.68 123 376 14593 29 60 1 71 BAL-NYY
20 Frank Tanana 2773 1973 1993 19-39 638 616 143 34 10 240 236 .504 1 4188.1 4063 1910 1704 1255 3.66 106 448 17641 116 129 27 119 CAL-BOS-TEX-DET-TOT
21 David Cone 2668 1986 2003 23-40 450 419 56 22 9 194 126 .606 1 2898.2 2504 1222 1115 1137 3.46 121 258 12184 42 106 32 149 NYM-TOT-KCR-NYY-BOS
22 Chuck Finley 2610 1986 2002 23-39 524 467 63 15 24 200 173 .536 0 3197.1 3069 1517 1366 1332 3.85 115 304 13638 36 76 22 130 CAL-ANA-CLE-TOT
23 Tom Glavine 2607 1987 2008 21-42 682 682 56 25 0 305 203 .600 0 4413.1 4298 1900 1734 1500 3.54 118 356 18604 145 66 7 65 ATL-NYM
24 Warren Spahn 2583 1942 1965 21-44 750 665 382 63 67 363 245 .597 29 5243.2 4830 2016 1798 1434 3.09 119 434 21547 60 42 5 81 BSN-MLN-TOT
25 Bob Feller 2581 1936 1956 17-37 570 484 279 44 52 266 162 .621 21 3827.0 3271 1557 1384 1764 3.25 122 224 16180 6 60 13 69 CLE
Rk Player SO From To Age G GS CG SHO GF W L W-L% SV IP H R ER BB ERA ERA+ HR BF IBB HBP BK WP Tm
26 Jerry Koosman 2556 1967 1985 24-42 612 527 140 33 43 222 209 .515 17 3839.1 3635 1608 1433 1198 3.36 110 290 15996 121 71 29 89 NYM-MIN-TOT-CHW-PHI
27 Javier Vazquez 2536 1998 2011 21-34 450 443 28 8 5 165 160 .508 0 2840.0 2784 1431 1331 763 4.22 105 373 11935 58 88 4 76 MON-NYY-ARI-CHW-ATL-FLA
Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Play Index Tool Used
Generated 4/12/2014.

 For villainy most people would consider use of performance enhancing drugs (PED), including steroids.  That would probably yield:

 Batters: Bonds, Rodriguez, Sosa, McGwire, Palmeiro, Ramirez, Sheffield.

Pitchers: Clemens, maybe Ryan.

Ignored would be head hunters like Martinez, Gibson, Bunning.

Pitchers use PED, too, but most baseball fans seem to ignore that.  In 2001 two 37 year old players set power season records: Barry Bonds (homers and home run rate) and Randy Johnson (strike out rate).  Who was upset that an old pitcher could set a power record?

And maybe it's not just recent batters who used PED.

Nolan Ryan: more on possible steroid use.  Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Those 1973 Atlanta Braves: was there something in the water?  Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Crime and punishment.  Friday, March 28, 2014

Alex Rodriguez and Ian Kennedy, a tale of two offenders...

 Crime:
Rodriguez: violated MBL policy on use of performance enhancing drugs (PED), including steroids; never failed drug test.

 Kennedy: hit two batters (Yasiel Puig, Zack Greinke) in the head in one game...

 Punishment:
Rodriguez: suspended one season (2014); currently serving.
Kennedy: suspended 10 games,one start.

 It seems absurd.
___________________________________________________________________________

Jon Lester: how did white resin turn green on your glove?  Friday, October 25, 2013

The Times said this about Lester:

 Starter Jon Lester said Friday that union members should understand the process, but added that the Red Sox did not want Rodriguez on the field.

 “I would imagine pretty much everybody in baseball feels that way,” Lester said...

 Boston manager John Farrell stuck up for Lester saying that Lester sweats like a pig.  Nice touch.  Except that Farrell had supported his coward pitcher Ryan Dempster after Dempster deliberately committed the vigilante act of hitting Alex Rodriguez with a 90 mile per hour fastball.  Even the MBL didn't buy Dempster's denial and slapped his wrist with a minimal suspension.
__________________________________________________________________

I thought that I saw the retired Dempster at a recent Chicago Cubs game in Wrigley Field.  May 20 and 21 the Yankees play the Cubs in Wrigley.  Maybe instead of singing "Take me out to the ball game" in the home seventh inning, Dempster can take the mound earlier to pitch to Pineda and intentionally fire 90 MPH fastballs at him until one crashes into Pineda's body.  The 2013 Avenging Angel award winner can revive his act.  Or do pitchers only punish batters, not each other?  I've done research and found that pitchers usually only hit other pitchers who are also good batters, which means very few.

Do you favor the batter or the pitcher?

Whom do you want to punish more, those who break the rules of play or those who use PED?
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