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?