K-Rod and suspicious behavior

by Adam J. Morris on Apr 4, 2007 2:30 PM CDT in News

Derek Zumsteg has a post up, with photographs, detailing some suspicious behavior by K-Rod earlier this week against the Rangers...

Zumsteg has a new book, the Cheater's Guide to Baseball, out...I was sent a copy, and plan on reading it this weekend and sharing my thoughts on it, and hopefully do a Q&A with Derek about the book (and this incident) as well...

Anyway, check out the link, and judge for yourself...

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well

i'm pretty sure every pitcher does this so i'm not going to throw stones.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2007 2:31 PM CDT reply actions

If you aren't cheating

in baseball, you aren't trying hard enough to win.

This ain't Golf.

"I snorted my father" - Keith Richards

by DJCahill on Apr 4, 2007 2:32 PM CDT up reply actions

i was actually going to quote you

or, going to quote you quoting whoever first said that.

"I want him focused on figuring out a way to beat that lefty's ass." - RW

by ab03 on Apr 4, 2007 2:34 PM CDT up reply actions

If our pitchers cheat...

then they're using the wrong substances.

by peteincaviglia on Apr 4, 2007 3:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Here is a vidcap I took from MLB.tv

It shows a white substance on the underside of the brim:

by hurley325 on Apr 4, 2007 2:31 PM CDT reply actions

Shadow

That sure looks like a shadow to me.

by akathelorax @ Lone Star Ball on Apr 4, 2007 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

the new

caps have a black underbrim. shadow doesn't explain white.

by jshcmp on Apr 5, 2007 10:00 AM CDT up reply actions

picture

I can't tell anything from that picture, but the way the site describes his motions i wouldnt doubt he was cheating, but how many pitchers don't cheat?

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Apr 4, 2007 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

all it is is rosin

by Longhorn on Apr 4, 2007 2:38 PM CDT reply actions

So you're saying........

instead of just picking up the rosin bag, he rubs rosin under the bill of his cap and continually rubs only his thumb on it? Surely, ye jest.

by tklawless on Apr 4, 2007 3:58 PM CDT up reply actions

I think...

What he is saying is that when he touches the bill of his cap the resin that is already on his hand from the resin bag rubs off and that is what we are seeing.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Apr 4, 2007 4:40 PM CDT up reply actions

possible

baseball players are creatures of habit, they are stuck on routines... perhaps its just his routine between pitches....who knows really

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Apr 4, 2007 4:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Not Habbit

I just re-watched today's 9th inning and K-Rod didn't even touch his hat one single time. Not even to adjust.

So he was for sure cheating on Monday and got a heads up before todays game. IMO.

"I feel like I have an idea about what we can do to keep the A's from beating us so much." Ron Washington

by hubcityraider on Apr 4, 2007 5:35 PM CDT up reply actions

I disagree

I saw him touch his cap several times.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Apr 4, 2007 7:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Oh yeah...

Well, since I could only go back 30 min on live TV I wasn't able to tune in until Kinsler's AB and I didn't see him touch his hat once after that.

"I feel like I have an idea about what we can do to keep the A's from beating us so much." Ron Washington

by hubcityraider on Apr 4, 2007 8:19 PM CDT up reply actions

Which is still illegal.

by Goose on Apr 4, 2007 6:06 PM CDT up reply actions

Rosin is illegal

Since when? I think what he's saying is that he touched the rosin bag and residue got on the brim on his cap. How is that illegal?

by akathelorax @ Lone Star Ball on Apr 4, 2007 6:31 PM CDT up reply actions

Right here

"Rule 8.02(a) Comment: If at any time the ball hits the rosin bag it is in play. In the case of rain or wet field, the umpire may instruct the pitcher to carry the rosin bag in his hip pocket. A pitcher may use the rosin bag for the purpose of applying rosin to his bare hand or hands. Neither the pitcher nor any other player shall dust the ball with the rosin bag; neither shall the pitcher nor any other player be permitted to apply rosin from the bag to his glove or dust any part of his uniform with the rosin bag."

MLB Rules

by Goose on Apr 5, 2007 3:30 AM CDT up reply actions

Dust with rosin bag

I sure hope you aren't an attorney.

It says,
"The pitcher...(shall not) dust any part of his uniform with the rosin bag."

If he uses the rosin bag to dry his hand and the rosin residue gets on his uniform because he wipes his hand on his hat, that isn't against the rules.

If he took the rosin bag and hit it against his hat to "dust" the rosin onto his hat, that would be against the rules.

And from KRod's explanation, it appears that is exactly what happened. Rosin from the rosin bag got on his hand and was transferred to his hat when he put his hand on it. Nothing illegal in the least and you are really starting to stretch things if you think it is.

by akathelorax @ Lone Star Ball on Apr 5, 2007 7:55 PM CDT up reply actions

i didnt read the article yet, but..

i assume he didnt mention this.

up until this year, all the caps had grey on the underside of the bills. its possible whatever is o there has been much more difficult to see, and its no coincidence we just now happen to see it.

by DShep on Apr 4, 2007 3:18 PM CDT reply actions

Vagisil...

book it.

by benmor78 on Apr 4, 2007 4:01 PM CDT up reply actions

Prolly

HGH or something.

by jplata on Apr 4, 2007 4:59 PM CDT reply actions

Denture adhesive

Improves the bite .......

Time does funny things. The worst of which is, it keeps moving when you don't.

by Ed Coffin on Apr 4, 2007 5:50 PM CDT up reply actions

Wow

Just, yah... WOW.

Thank ye, thank ye. Good to be hither.

by thedirkatron on Apr 4, 2007 5:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Definately.

I call roid.

buffering....

by SteveP on Apr 4, 2007 8:13 PM CDT up reply actions

Update

he didnt keep grabbing the brim of his hat today and he almost blew it.

I like you, I like baseball!

by RangerMack on Apr 4, 2007 6:40 PM CDT reply actions

I did

see him rub the thumb on hat at least once during the game.

I forget when, but if anyone has video of the game, it'll show it.

by jplata on Apr 4, 2007 7:13 PM CDT reply actions

Just in case you missed it

I wrote some further analysis of the K-Rod incident over at Baseball Time in Arlington, including more pictures and the first video available of the incident publicly. You can find it at:

http://mvn.com/mlb-rangers/2007/04/04/k-rod-cheating/

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jamcadbury on Apr 4, 2007 8:18 PM CDT reply actions

watched the vid

yeah, that's a little too blatant in my opinion. the league should make him be more discreet.

buffering....

by SteveP on Apr 4, 2007 8:29 PM CDT up reply actions

not enough evidence to convict

You could make a strong case he just has a tic of adjusting his cap. Not to say he isn't doctoring, but this isn't definitive evidence. What Kenny was doing in the WS last year was much more blatant.

The good times are killing me.

by trza on Apr 4, 2007 9:19 PM CDT reply actions

I agree with some of the comments

Zumsteg's site...
if it is rosin, from touching the bag and then wiping it on his hat, why wouldn't it be showing up on the top?

Troy I.

by tdi1985 on Apr 4, 2007 9:36 PM CDT reply actions

Norm is talking about this on the

Ticket right now. Good observations. He only goes to his hat when he gets a new ball.

by jshcmp on Apr 5, 2007 10:19 AM CDT reply actions

apparently mlb is looking into it

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/baseball/rangers/stories/040607dnspokrod.35995f17.ht ml

" Major League Baseball confirmed Thursday morning that it is investigating if Los Angeles Angels closer Francisco Rodriguez doctored the baseball during two appearances against the Rangers this week."

"Pimps be damned, it's harder out here for a Rangers fan!" "If you don't throw strikes first, you're last."

by rentz on Apr 5, 2007 2:59 PM CDT reply actions

Doctoring

the baseball and corking bats is part of the game. Paying the consequences for when you get caught is also part of the game. Steroids has no place is baseball.

Ephesians 1:3-10

by kwellborn on Apr 6, 2007 12:23 PM CDT reply actions

Wha??

So some kinds of cheating are ok as long as you don't get caught but others aren't?

Is that what you tell your students?

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Apr 6, 2007 12:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Sports and School

are not the same thing and that is a lame argument. You probably already knew that though. Everyone must decide whether breaking the rules is worth the consequences. Steroids are different because it is done outside of the actual game and it is illegal in this country. I would compare doctoring baseballs and the like to holding in football. Or to a receiver putting a little something on the hands for grip. If you get caught you know what will happen. I did not say it was ok. I said it is part of the game and it is. Ask any former player.

Are you telling me the world is black and white?

Ephesians 1:3-10

by kwellborn on Apr 6, 2007 4:51 PM CDT up reply actions

Black and white?

On some things yes. Cheating is cheating. Saying it is a part of the game unless you get caught is basically saying it's ok in my opinion. If that isn't what you meant then I'm sorry. And just because it is part of the game doesn't mean it should be.

Doctoring baseballs is not like holding but it is like a receiver putting something on his hands. It's a premeditated act to gain an advantage. Just like taking steroids.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Apr 6, 2007 9:00 PM CDT up reply actions

but isn't

holding against the rules? Doesn't it give an unfair advantage to the offensive lineman? Doesn't it affect the outcome of the game? Aren't there players that are really good at doing it without getting caught? Don't players do it intentionally and hope they don't get caught? Is there not a punishment for getting caught holding? How is it different?

Steroids are worse than either of these because they are against the law and they harm the health of the player.

Ephesians 1:3-10

by kwellborn on Apr 7, 2007 1:34 PM CDT up reply actions

In the flow of the game

There are rules in every sport that are based on things that happen on the spur of the moment during regular game play. Holding in football, fouling in basketball, and something like what happened to Laird on his bunt yesterday in baseball. All of those are entirely different than things you plan out before the game and/or use foreign objects and substances to do.

Corking a bat, scuffing a ball, betting on games, and using steroids are all those kinds of things and are all MUCH worse.

Milk, milk, lemonade, around the corner fudge is made.

by LoneStarBallUser on Apr 7, 2007 2:06 PM CDT up reply actions