The rules imposed by the MLB on a multitude of subjects are seemingly constantly under scrutiny, and for good reason. it would be putting it nicely to say that the rules are terribly ambiguous and poorly arbitrated. It would be more honest to say that the rules, the people who make them, and the people who decide punishment, are terrible for the sport, as there is no uniformity nor is their much support for any of the rules.
One rule that is particularly poorly written is the one regarding pitchers and foreign substances. Recently, two relief pitchers, Will Smith of the Milwaukee Brewers and Brian Matusz of the Baltimore Orioles, got handed eight game suspensions for having a foreign substance on their arms.
In the official rulebook, the rule(s) regarding foreign substances are 8.01 to 8.02. All 0f the rules begin the following way:
A pitcher shall not-
8.02(a)(3)- rub the ball on his glove, person or clothing
8.02(a)(4)- apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball
8.02(a)(5)- deface the ball in any manner; or
8.02(a)(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.
These rules have some of the biggest problems. Let’s start from the top. The rules state that a pitcher can’t rub the ball on his glove, person, or clothing. Herein lies the first problem: how is a pitcher, who puts the ball in his glove, and moves it around while it is in there, expected to not rub it on his glove in the process, whether intentionally or not? Another part of the rule deals with rubbing the ball on your person, yet an exception is that it may be rubbed between the pitcher’s hands. That is contradictory to the point of being ridiculous: what is to stop pitchers from having a minute amount of a foreign substance on their hands?
It also states that a pitcher may not deliver a ball that has been defaced. It is fairly well known that knuckleballers file their nails in such a way that it gives them a better grip on the ball. Couldn’t that deface the ball? Yet the MLB imposes no restrictions on knuckleballers.
There have been violators of the rules throughout the history of the game, and these latest instances should come as no surprise to the higher-ups at the MLB. If they want to cut down on violators, then amend the rules. It’s that simple.
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