Mariano Rivera Spitball: Video Evidence?
by Rev Halofan on Oct 20, 2009 2:39 AM PDT
in Angels News
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PrintPersonally, the video you are about to watch (brought to my attention by figgifig) is pretty amazing: I would say this is pretty conclusive evidence of why Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera is able to throw only one pitch that has unpredictable, yet precise movement.
He has mastered the Angels so far in the ALCS but has Major League Baseball gotten a look at how he "warms up" for his appearance on the mound? You be the judge...
- With a tie game in the bottom of the 10th, the Yankees bring in Rivera.
- After warming up, he has his back to home plate so the home plate ump can't see.
- He looks down at the ball, then up to see if the 2nd base ump is watching.
- He then looks back at the ball and appears to spit on it.
- And when he tests clean for steroids they say he is not a cheater.
The spitball was banned by baseball in the early 1920s. It gave the pitcher an unfair advantage with the "funny" movement that the pitch seemed to make, and was deemed unsafe to batters as the ball was not as visible when marred with foreign substances.
and a link to DETAILED SCREENGRABS of this infraction.
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Look very closely at the picture. Ignore the massive amount of black. But the blue line is pointing to a tiny white line. That white line is spit.
"Figgins' OBP is still over 40!" -Steve Physioc
you notice how fast they cut away after the saw the loogie...
FOX and all of MLB has such a Yankees biased… They also always cut away on many of Damon’s throws as to not make him look like a fairy…
game time!
Well...
I just watched it back on my DVR recording in HD and it looked like it missed the ball…
So I would say inconclusive… Maybe he was just spitting like every other ball player, or maybe he missed this time… ???
Heaven has another Angel. RIP, Nick Adenhart. You'll be missed.
http://extra1nnings.blogspot.com/
by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Oct 19, 2009 11:18 PM PDT reply actions
i'll try to post a pic
if i can
Heaven has another Angel. RIP, Nick Adenhart. You'll be missed.
http://extra1nnings.blogspot.com/
by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Oct 19, 2009 11:19 PM PDT up reply actions
naw,
i’m pretty sure i saw it pass over his hand
Heaven has another Angel. RIP, Nick Adenhart. You'll be missed.
http://extra1nnings.blogspot.com/
by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Oct 19, 2009 11:21 PM PDT up reply actions
That's what I was trying to see
But it’s suspicious that he’d look at the ball, look in the direction of the umps, and THEN spit. I voted inconclusive…however
"Figgins' OBP is still over 40!" -Steve Physioc
by Figgi4life on Oct 19, 2009 11:23 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions
true
i agree
Heaven has another Angel. RIP, Nick Adenhart. You'll be missed.
http://extra1nnings.blogspot.com/
by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Oct 19, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions
it hits ball
i have a grab of the spit splattering up off the ball
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 19, 2009 11:28 PM PDT up reply actions
Not to defend Mariano here, but skip forward a few frames and look at Soth's jacked for that "splatter".
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
Agree. See my comment in QGS' post.
It’s the maker’s logo of Sosh’s uni.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
yah i saw that now
i still think it hits hand and ball
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 19, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions
Uh...
The dude cheated. Right there. Live and in front of America. MLB has one, and only one, recourse: pull the video from Youtube.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
Bwahaha.
If your Tivo is mysteriously failing tomorrow morning I think we’ll have a winner.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
some screen grabs from my mlb.tv feed
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 19, 2009 11:23 PM PDT reply actions
So the rule is: You're subject to an ejection if you're caught during the game?
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
let's not forget
that there was similar controversy with K-Rod doctoring the ball a while back…
Just sayin’…
Heaven has another Angel. RIP, Nick Adenhart. You'll be missed.
http://extra1nnings.blogspot.com/
by HawaiiHaloFan35 on Oct 19, 2009 11:26 PM PDT reply actions
Wasnt that touching the bill of his hat?
No evidence he had anything in his hat however.
Im still not sure what to make of this. First time through I thought for sure he spat on the ball, but now im not so sure.
Never Quit , Never Surrender!
by anaheim angels on Oct 20, 2009 12:11 AM PDT up reply actions
OK now
That explains it.
Based on that one video it is tough to tell if the spit hits the ball, but it may have hit his hand too for use that way. The really shady part is the way he looks around first.
Soth better keep an eye on that guy.
Completely inconclusive...
There is no way to tell what angle the magical loogie was being directed.
This does, however, remind me of a classic Seinfeld episode.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WEzBeP6pRoY&feature=PlayList&p=D5E7102F1B32ED20&index=0&playnext=1
I've got nothing.
pretty inconclusive?
check Q’s Goofy Swing’s still shots. Unless those are photoshopped spittles, you can plainly see spit dripping off the ball and his hand.
No matter what happens from here on, it has been a great season.
by Rally Manatee on Oct 20, 2009 7:08 AM PDT up reply actions
If he is not trying to spit on the ball
Why is he holding the ball up and looking at it while spitting?!!! Put the ball down and spit!!! Move your head and spit to the side…I don’t understand why he needs to even spit in the same direction…do you?
If he is trying to spit on the ball,
why does he move the ball slightly to his right (and out of the direct line of ‘fire’) as he spits down?
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
he knows what angles they are filming him from? man he is good!...or I guess not cause he was caught
Yeah. He also knows which camera is lit. That is why he failed to turn his back/
He yearns to be caught. He is crying out for help.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
i'm sure all cameras are lit
the van just mixes in real time.
by PagsBrewCrew on Oct 21, 2009 5:10 AM PDT up reply actions
WOW! GET THIS OUT INTO THE BLOGOSPHERE/ INTERNET !!!
I suggest you make this a big deal. Email it to peeps at LA Times blog and what not. Tweet it, Digg IT, put it on your facebook, etc.
C’mon internet-savvy people…at least make a controversy out of this!!
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Oct 19, 2009 11:31 PM PDT reply actions
A banner-plane flying over the stadium tomorrow would be fine.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
Actually
If you have a Digg account the story is posted there with the video.
Nick, you will always be an Angel. And you will be missed.
by anaheimisnotla on Oct 20, 2009 12:30 AM PDT up reply actions
If I recall the rule,
even if the umps see this, all they do is warn him for the first offense. He doesn’t get booted until the second offense.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
and i mean...
the pitcher replaces the ball like a billion times in an inning.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Oct 19, 2009 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions
anything to get in his head
i want him to be afraid to take a shit while he’s at home
by Quinlan's Goofy Swing on Oct 19, 2009 11:32 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
This is disgusting.
Do something about it, MLB. Save you effing integrity, what little is left.
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
I sent this to Deadspin already...AND MORE PEOPLE SHOULD
…just so they actually pick up on it.
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Oct 19, 2009 11:48 PM PDT reply actions
Fuck it we won.
And if he did spit on the ball then karma will be coming to collect.
They want power, We want respect...
I'm in a weird place
I need a ride home
Shit… I lost my glasses
by Funke5ive on Oct 20, 2009 12:03 AM PDT via mobile reply actions
call a cab
take it to the Anaheim Marriot and bill Joe Girardi for the ride.
by Rev Halofan on Oct 20, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions
Are you guys serious?
In no way is he trying to get away with cheating there. Dropping a giant wad of herpes simplex 1 in front of 50,000 fans and a million cameras is just so obvious, so stupid, and he would have been caught ages ago.
Besides, he has to doctor the ball EVERY pitch, you dont just lube up the ball once and its good to go.
There are so many reasons why this is absolutely not even close to being anything that people should take action against.
Find video clips of him spitting on the ball over the course of a series, then you have a case. One time is in no way grounds for calling anyone a cheater.
He might have just accidentally spit on the ball, which was instantly replaced, because all balls usually are.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
you're not counting all the concession people
now Phi’s comments are valid again.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
He said Fans so...
…still not valid.
But nice try bud. trying to throw a curve ball at me or should I say spit ball!
Yup, and the Ushers and Front Office, and Grounds Crew, and some of the Broadcasters....
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
r u?
I mean this is as close as you can get to evidence. He is looking around as to avoid anyone looking. Back to home plate. He is looking directly at the ball as he spits and if he somehow missed it doesn’t look like he’s trying to miss. And so only because he does it once it is not evidence.
And if he spit on it. It wouldn’t be replaced until after he pitches and only if it’s fouled or hits the floor. Other wise it is tossed back by Posada.
You see one pitcher spit on the ball, possibly accidentally
and assume he does it constantly, without any proof, and then demand action?
Seriously, I expect way more out of the HH community, and especially Rev, than this uneducated attention grab.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
*Further proof
Show me other evidence, in any other video clip at anytime where is even looks like he is doctoring the ball, and it could possibly be a story.
You would think with how much the Red Sox hate the Yanks, one fan or player or coach would have picked this up by now>
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
That does NOT make Rivera a cheater.
Come on, lets give respect where respect is due.
Absent minded spitting while thinking about what hes going to do to A Rods body later at the hotel suite.
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
I just want to know why he didn't move his head or put the ball down.
not saying he does it all the time or ever before…maybe its a new thing…he is about to turn 40. I do have respect for him but he still should be asked about this.
i never said he is doing it constantly I said it seems pretty clear that he is trying to spit at it here
and r u that silly to think that he just accidentally looks directly at the ball when spitting. Do you really think that one of the best all time closers doesn’t know the rule of spitting on balls and is just gonna make it look like he might be spitting at it.
Dude if I’m him and I’m just spitting I’m holding that ball far away and hocking one as to not give any reason to be accused of docing the ball. Surely we may be ruining your dreams of having a God like Closer kinda like when a kid is told that Santa is not real.
And maybe your referencing the people that voted him banned. I for one believe he did it but would agree that this is not enough proof to suspend him. Only good thing that comes out of this is if he is, now he can’t anymore.
I agree...why is he spitting near the ball at all when it could be seen like he is cheating?...
when I go to a music store I don’t walk around with the cd’s in my pocket that I am going to buy while I look around still just because I don’t want to carry them around…this could be seen as stealing.
He knows the rules and even if he is just spitting it could accidentally land on the ball when you hold the ball up right under the direction of the spit…which actually would still be against the rules…right?
Also no don’t ban him…he can’t be banned anyways.
perfect analogy
if you aint doing anything wrong why give the appearance of it. I mean he could have held the ball a lil lower at least but obv he would prob miss. Even though it looks like he has some dam good location with his spits too.
whhhhhhhaaaaat?!....
as a pitcher when spitting…it is best to play the game of “how close can my spit come to the ball without hitting it”…its really fun, trust me I was a catcher/OF in little league…geez…you don’t even know me anymore do you?!
Right now...
In a dimly lit hotel room …
A half empty bottle of Blue Label sits on the end table …
Jeter’s used jock from tonights game stuffed loosely in his mouth …
Joe Buck’s laptop is plugged in to the wall socket …
Boxers down at the kneecaps …
Limp skin whistle in hand …
Joe has this very clip on endless loop …
The fucker is passed-out and is snoring loud, even through the filthy jock in his mouth …
Housekeeping will wake him before tomorrow’s call time. But damn, what a night.
But
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
You sound like that pervert that liked to rent the hotel room next door
and video tape the sports reporter in the nude through the peep hole.
The 2009 Pregame Picks Winner and Iron Man of Halos Heaven.com
My understanding is that a "spitball" is rarely doctored with spit
the video is pretty funny, but if he were seriously doctoring each ball with spit, he better have a bottle of water instead of a resin bag on the mound. Now if you told me he had vaseline on his belt buckle, I could believe that one.
I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer.
According to rule 8.02 of MLB's rules of "The Pitcher"
(emphasis mine)
8.02
The pitcher shall not —
(a) …
(2) expectorate on the ball, either hand or his glove;
…
(6) deliver a ball altered in a manner prescribed by Rule 8.02(a)(2) through (5) or what is called the "shine" ball, "spit" ball, "mud" ball or "emery" ball. The pitcher is allowed to rub the ball between his bare hands.
PENALTY: For violation of any part of Rules 8.02(a)(2) through (6)
(a) the pitcher shall be ejected immediately from the game and shall be suspended automatically. In National Association Leagues, the automatic suspension shall be for 10 games.
(b) If a play follows the violation called by the umpire, the manager of the team at bat may advise the plate umpire-in-chief that he elects to accept the play. Such election shall be made immediately at the end of the play. However, if the batter reaches first base on a hit, an error, a base on balls, a hit batsman, or otherwise, and no other runner is put out before advancing at least one base, the play shall proceed without reference to the violation.
© Even though the team at bat elects to take the play, the violation shall be recognized and the penalties in subsection (a) will still be in effect.
(d) If the manager of the team at bat does not elect to accept the play, the umpire-inchief shall call an automatic ball and, if there are any runners on base, a balk.
(e) The umpire shall be sole judge on whether any portion of this rule has been violated.
Rules 8.02(a)(2) through 8.02(a)(6)
And the most important part, which I think is the case here:
Comment: If a pitcher violates either Rule 8.02(a)(2) or 8.02(a)(3) and, in the judgment of the umpire, the pitcher did not intend, by his act, to alter the characteristics of a pitched ball, then the umpire may, in his discretion, warn the pitcher in lieu of applying the penalty set forth for violations of 8.02(a)(2) through 8.02(a)(6). If the pitcher persists in violating either of those Rules, however, the umpire should then apply the penalty.
- LINK -
Make your own judgments, but this guy has been pitching since closing became fashionable. If he’d been spitting on the ball we’d know it by now.
The more curious case is what the hell Pettitte is doing with the ball in the glove-to-mouth zone before every pitch:
It could be a new thang son...he OLD
you do have a shifty ass eye…hell you a damn goat!
“Fuck me in the goat ass!”
-who said it?
I was just about to post the rules too
that reading sounds to me like the umpire only issues a warning when his is unsure if the pitcher actually doctored the ball.
If it wasn’t Mariano Rivera I would fully expect a suspension. I mean we go with the letter of the law when Aybar doesn’t touch 2nd on the neighborhood play, but Rivera spits on the ball and we’ll ignore those rules. Sounds good to me…….
Also anyone saying this is nothing, it most certainly is not. The spit is not applied for grip but it adds weight to one side of the ball which does give it extra movement which in a game which is decided by millimeters is HUGE. Anyone see the mythbusters where they tried to get a car to fall flat from a crane but since the extra weight of the motor made the cars top heavy the cars fell in that direction. It’s the same principle here. Add some weight to one side of a ball and watch it move.
You
know nothing about baseball do you? They can’t hit it because it breaks 4-6 inches after they’ve already started to swing, so they swing in the wrong place.
Much good it did him
The only use that ball he spit on had was in the bunt play by Aybar that Rivera threw in the dirt. They gave him a new ball after that and while I don’t know if he spat on that one, it would have been much harder to get away with it.
Oh. My. God.
You have got to be kidding me guys. He was spitting on the ground. They do that in baseball. You guys won yesterday and you’re still finding something to complain about?
What I wrote was
along the lines of: Hey, this looks weird. Take a look and let me know what you think.
If he’s not doing anything suspect, why look around and check the umps, and why spit so close to the ball? It’s just odd.
And we’ll always find something to complain about. :)
He's looking around
because there are men on base and he wants to see the defense, I would expect. He doesn’t even spit close to the ball, he just spits on the same side of his body as the ball. What else should he do, turn over his shoulder every time he spits?
He probably doesn’t even think about not spitting on the same side of his body as the ball because it’s very, very obvious that he isn’t spitting on the ball.
Yeah, "very, very obvious"
Why are you even defending him if it is so very, very obvious. Not obvious enough for so many media outlets to pick it up. Remember there was one man on second, no outs, tie game, with the league leader in bunts at bat; a 99.9% bunting situation. They bring in Rivera to face Aybar knowing he is up there to bunt the first pitch. The perfect situation for him to pull out the secret weapon…just saying.
Maybe there was still some stinky loogey on the ball when he made that wild throw to A-roid?
You guys are nuts...
he’s not throwing spitballs. His cutter has such late and unpredictable movement because that’s what a cutter does, and Rivera has the ability to increase or decrease break on it.
No one in their right mind would try actually spitting on the ball, there are cameras everywhere and they would get caught. You guys won a game, be happy and stop trying to find crazy conspiracy theories.
by Wraithpk on Oct 20, 2009 7:46 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
I've read alot of this kind of argument...
“He’s not doing it because only an idiot would do somthing like this and he’s not an idiot… QED”…
How about we try this line of logic…
“If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and spits like a duck, he’s a fucking cheater…” (My one F-bomb for the month)…
Look, I’m pretty sure that 99.99 % of the time, he’s not doctoring the ball. This one time it sure does look like he’s intentionally spitting directly on the ball. He looks directly at the ball, raises it up a little then spits in the direction of the ball. You can make all the “but he’s never been accused of this before” arguments all you want. The video shows him spitting on the ball. He really really needed an out and he got one… after spitting on the ball.
An impressive cutter made all the more impressive by....SPIT!
Quack, quack, quack. Look a duck.
Happy Birthday to the ground!
by Monkeyspanked on Oct 20, 2009 8:09 AM PDT up reply actions
I'm not really sold on doctoring the ball..
but your argument that “no one in their right mind would try this because everyone is watching…”
Look at Manny, taking steroids, when MLB tests for steroids.
People will do crazy shit, regardless of the situation.
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 20, 2009 8:12 AM PDT up reply actions
Great job, guys. Now it's on Deadspin.
Now us angel fans are gonna appear pathetic and whiny. There’s NO WAY Rivera spit on that ball, in that fashion during a playoff game. C’mon, man. We won the game, let’s leave it at that.
Hooters anyone?
by Chone's Chonies on Oct 20, 2009 8:11 AM PDT reply actions 4 recs
rofl @ Quinlins Goofy Swing being quoted
hahahaha
What do you need a fancy suit for, Charlie, you ain't got no job to wear it to.
by clover_black on Oct 20, 2009 8:13 AM PDT up reply actions
Exactly.
This is a non-issue just like when K-Rod was accused of doctoring the ball by a blogger. Best to delete this and turn the page like The Soth.
by Fan Since 1981 on Oct 20, 2009 8:15 AM PDT up reply actions
it's just fun to speculate
who cares what deadspin commenters actually say? All that matters is the news gets put out there and maybe we’ll see a less doctored ball tonight if Mo was actually doing it, I highly doubt it but it wouldn’t be the first time in a championship series where a pitcher was doctoring balls…look up what Mike Scott did during the 1986 season and NLCS with Houston by scuffing balls read about it here: http://bit.ly/2ZTrD2.
#34, never forget.
Sorry guys, I'm not with you on this one
I seriously doubt he’s spitting on the ball. It looks to me like it goes past the ball on the other side from the camera.
I may be wrong, but the guy’s been pitching incredible baseball for 15 years. If he was doctoring the ball, it seems like something would have been documented before this. I just don’t buy it.
We won, it doesn’t matter.
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
by Gorbachav5 on Oct 20, 2009 8:12 AM PDT reply actions 3 recs
I didn't say that either
But if Rivera is using this pitch with the bases loaded in a playoff game, he’s done it before. No, that’s not evidence, just an argument.
Mainly, it looks like the spit goes past the ball. I’d like to see what pitch this was. Can anyone match this up with the pitchfx from Gameday? I remember one pitch to Torii Hunter that broke differently from most of his other pitches. If it was that pitch, I’ll be much more inclined to believe this.
Either way, it doesn’t matter. MLB isn’t going to do anything. The Angels won. The most we can do is be on the lookout for it the rest of the series. I’m not going to sit here and tell you Rivera isn’t capable of doing it, but it just seems implausible enough and it looks enough like the spit doesn’t the ball that I’m going to write this one off.
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
Fair enough
i voted for inconclusive myself even though my heart said “guilty!” You’re right that MLB prob. won’t do anything other than maybe read some of these posts, watch the video for themselves and decide that it doesn’t really show enough to justify throwing the shit at the fan.
What I hope will happen, though, is that a few influential media types (it’s nice to see it on deadspin and there was also an article on MSNBC.com today) will at least point to the incident and let people know that a question has been raised. Mariano Rivera is not God. He has pitched with the luxuries of great teams, an extra round of playoffs, and perhaps one of the easiest positions in all of baseball: closer. Imagine if the greats of the past (Young, Gibson, Ryan) had his job. Would Rivera even be a top 25 closer? Imagine trying to comeback from a 2 run deficit with Ryan throwing 99mph fastballs at your ear.
Rivera is merely a situational specialist and now he possibly has had to resort to cheating just to be that.
Captain, there are doubt's...
by Match Day 5 on Oct 20, 2009 11:54 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree with your position. I disagree with your observation.
Rivera looks around the infield, checking the game situation. He is NOT making sure that the umps are not looing, because he does not look at the 1B ump or the ump down the 1B line. And when he looks to his left there are 2 umps in that direction, so he would only be paying attention to 1. He is not trying to cover his ass.
But, anyway, then he goes to spit. Just prior to releasing his spit he clearly takes his right hand, with the ball, and moves it to his right to avoid spitting on the ball. He spits straight down. The spit travels between the camera and the ball.
The spit strikes the ground, just as Rivera inended, right on our logo. Hey…wait a minute…
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
This should never have been brought up
The Yankees are dangerous as it is. But word of these baseless accusations is going to really piss them off.
One of my favorite scenes
Rick Vaughn: [Seeing Harris take off his shirt, revealing white suff on his chest] What’s that shit on your chest?
Eddie Harris: [Looking at his chest] Crisco.
Eddie Harris: [wiping it across his head]
Eddie Harris: Bardol.
Eddie Harris: [wiping it along his waist line]
Eddie Harris: Vagisil. Any one of them will give you another two to three inches drop on your curve ball. Of course if the umps are watching me real close I’ll rub a little jalapeo up my nose, get it runnin’, and if I need to load the ball up I just…
Eddie Harris: [wipes his nose]
Eddie Harris: …wipe my nose.
Rick Vaughn: You put snot on the ball?
Eddie Harris: I haven’t got an arm like you, kid. I have to put anything on it I can find. Someday you will too.
copy/paste from imdb.com
Captain, there are doubt's...
lol panther!
"In every adversity there lies the seed of an equivalent advantage. In every defeat is a lesson showing you how to win the victory next time." (Robert Collier)
by norcaliangelsfan on Oct 20, 2009 8:46 AM PDT up reply actions
I love this scene too!
Just another Halo victory
by HalosFanInNorCal on Oct 20, 2009 9:43 AM PDT up reply actions
FWIW, reply from Post columnist Mike Vaccaro
I emailed a few reporters/columnists a few hours ago. Got this back from the Post’s Mike Vaccaro:
Funny, this is everywhere this morning. It’s hard to doubt what the eyes see, no?
Very interesting …
Mike
Mike Vaccaro
Sports Columnist
New York Post
So now we're as bad
as whiney second-rate Mariners bloggers? Great…
Ugh.
Seriously.
There are three dimensions. Television squishes it down to two. He did not spit on the baseball. He is just a very good pitcher. Jesus, why are fans so conspiratorial.
If he was a very good pitcher he'd be a starter.
He’s slightly more useful than a pinch hitter.
Captain, there are doubt's...
by Match Day 5 on Oct 20, 2009 11:56 AM PDT up reply actions
i bet a lot of teams would love to have
a “slightly more useful than a pinch hitter” player to lock down a lead in the 9th inning 36 times in the playoffs.
i’m not trying to troll, i like reading what a lot of you have to say. but i can’t put up with asinine comments like that. so Mariano Rivera = Lenny Harris? completely absurd.
by SBakerTheTouchdownMaker on Oct 20, 2009 4:09 PM PDT up reply actions
A lot of teams have those pitchers. They are called closers.
They down one thing very well. Kind of like punters and place kickers.
Captain, there are doubt's...
Cause it's fun
Fans, fanatical, fantastic, fantasy…c’mon, it’s all part of the game. Light(en) up and enjoy the show.
Did he spit on the ball? Possibly.
Was he throwing a spitball? Probably not. This is a non-issue.
IF he did spit on it, I’m willing to bet if the camera shot continued on Mariano for a couple more seconds, it would have shown him rubbed the ball with both hands as pitchers do, which would have smoothed the surface so that any “spit imperfections” would be squashed. Still, if he did spit on the ball, that is definitely not allowed, and he probably should have been warned.
All of this is just more drama for the media to feed off to add to a tough ALCS
Do it for NA
That's not how you apply sumthing on to a spitball for onething
thats prolly the worst way to get a spitball if he was doing it. another thing is that god knows the TV doesn’t tell the whole truth. It’s stupid to think he gets away with a spit ball thru his whole career and the umps look away every time
I dislike this argument.
No one is claiming he has always done this. They are saying he did it yesterday. Was it a one-off?? Is he aging?? Was he feeling the pressure and tried to do something about it?
MLB is looking into it (via NY Post). I think there is more video out there (before the fade) which FOX should make available. This should be cleared up for everyone’s sake.
Check out these games:
Multiplayer Baseball: http://www.mmobaseball.com/createaccount.aspx?ref=9687
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by matthiasstephan on Oct 20, 2009 11:10 AM PDT up reply actions
Shady yes, evidence no.
It should be looked into with more video from Fox. This clip doesn’t show enough but I have to say the Mariano has the look of someone trying not to get caught. He kind of looks like a 14 year old that is about the shoplift.
If this is something that he does all the time he would hide it better (belt buckle, hat, hair, zipper etc) but this in no way means that he isn’t guilty here. Someone qualified should take a look and not leave it up to us biased fans.
It isn't that I hate Boston, just that I hate Bostonians.
I think you guys are crazy
I won’t say that I’m 100% certain that Rivera doesn’t cheat, but I’m pretty certain that he doesn’t do it by hocking a loogie two feet from the ball in front four umpires, 45,000 fans in attendance, and millions of people on TV.
It's the playoffs. 6 umps.
You too can be a baseball media analyst! Just don't allow your need to be wrong in public to get in the way of your ignorance.
My comment on the original fanpost was that.....
if Rivera’s intent was to merely spit on the ground, then it would be odd that he stared right at the ball the intire time from the moment he looked down at the ball after looking up towards 2nd base (to see if the 2nd base ump was looking ??) He was holding the ball up, raised as if it were a target.
When people spit they will usually look in the direction they are spitting, to make sure it doesn’t land on their shoe etc. You’d turn or raise your head and then spit.
Even if the spit missed the ball here it looks very odd. And intent in this case would be just as bad as actually succeeding at it.
Surprise, Surprise--Commish has rule no spitting
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-rivera21-2009oct21,0,3118021.story
BS? Or the “truth”? Come on MLB, let’s see those “Extra angles and footage” that clear Mo’s name! :-D
RIP Nick Adenhart.
"When the Babe tries to call his shot, I hope Nick puts one in his ear."
--RallyMonkey5
It'd be cool to see that extra footage in tonight's game.
Ideally, the extra footage would not precede another appearance from Rivera.
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
MLB has ruled "No Spitball"
So let’s all just move on and enjoy the games, shall we?
I feel the need, the need...for speed!
To sum up...
MLB has ruled that since he’s never been accused of doing this before, he’s innocent.
We should preemptively accuse everyone of everything.
And boy howdy, there would go that defense!
Let's do this for Nick Adenhart, Courtney Stewart, and Henry Pearson.
You guys have got to be kidding.....
..."I predict...the Giants are #1"...
...."That's not a prediction meatman, that's a FACT OF LIFE"!.
---Carl
it looks like he's spitting but
a quick question for you:
i know spitting moves the ball around but how much does it make the ball move?
"it's mind-bottling."
If you're gonna spit on it..masturbate on it...fuck it...you're a Yankee, the network will block that shit out with some "digital distortion"
Just whack away at your pecker and juice that ball…The umps are already paid, don’t worry about the details just slap some cum on the leather sphere and strike out the side…save some for your finger so you can slide that fuckin’ ring on….that’s all that matters.
Scott Feldman – "The greatest Hawaiian-born Jewish baseball player to ever set foot on the mound."
This is ridiculous
You guys are insane whiners. If he wanted to load up the ball (which is done with vaseline or petroleum jelly, not spit), he surely could have found a more discrete way than by holding the ball waist high and hocking a goober on it (e.g. putting vaseline on the underside of his hat brim, a la K-Rod). He’d surely have been caught doing this long ago if he had been. I also love how everyone on here is a spit expert. Rivera spits a lot. That’s the way it is. This time, a funny camera angle made it look like he spit near a ball. He didn’t actually spit on it, nor did he try to, nor would it have helped the movement on the pitch if he did, but continue to act like fools if you want, I suppose.
by TheyCallMeBruce on Oct 21, 2009 11:59 AM PDT reply actions
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