Posted on 05/11/2013 11:52:16 AM PDT by rickmichaels
Edited on 05/11/2013 11:53:37 AM PDT by Admin Moderator. [history]
BOSTON (CBS)
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.cbslocal.com ...
In the bigs anything wrong with the ball and a new one is in. Even the batters pay attention and ask the ump to check the ball.And, if they're not sure themselves and don't ask the ump to check, they just do what former pitching coach Ray Miller reminded people: Hit it on the dry side---or, wait for the one that doesn't break. Because a spitter that doesn't break is just a batting practise fastball begging to take a trip over the fence.
Bo Belinsky once said that when you played the Yankees and Whitey Ford got away with his mud ball, the opposing pitcher prayed to find it waiting for him at the mound when the sides changed. Belinsky himself would learn a proper spitter in due course from Lew Burdette, but he'd say of Ford's mud ball, "If I saw that little spot of mud on it when I got back to the mound, it was three outs I didn't even have to try for. If the spot wasn't there, I was dead."
Then there was Don Sutton, who once inspired Ray Miller to say this: Sutton has shown such a fine example of defiance that I expect him to throw a ball up to the plate with bolts attached to it.
Sutton himself had his own way of dealing with things when the umpires wanted him frisked. He was said to have little notes in the fingers of his glove, one of which said: YOU'RE GETTING WARMER. BUT IT ISN'T HERE.
Did you know: Sutton as an Angel once started a game against Tommy John, then a Yankee, and also suspected himself of a little fine tuning on a ball. During the game, George Steinbrenner---who was watching from his Tampa home---called the Yankee dugout and badgered manager Lou Piniella to have Sutton checked and, if necessary, ejected.
"George," Piniella pleaded, "if I have Sutton checked they'll have T.J. checked. Whatever they're doing, T.J.'s doing it better. So let's just let them be."
The Yankees won the game, but the best line about the game came from a scout watching from the press box: "Tommy John and Don Sutton? If you can find one smooth ball from that game, you ought to send it to Cooperstown."
A tack in the glove is fine with me...Which reminds me of Rick Honeycutt. In his pitching days, he once had a tack held to a finger on his glove hand, held there with a flesh-coloured bandage. When he got caught with it, he walked off the mound and, without thinking, wiped sweat from his forehead . . . with the tack hand, leaving a gash going across his forehead. His teammates didn't let him live it down the rest of the season . . .
LOL hadn’t heard that story.
Here’s my Belinsky story.
I was working the bases in spring training game in St. Pete between the Cardinals single A and double A teams. The triple A and bigs had games in other towns on the gold coast. All of a suddeen out of the club house comes a gaggle of people. Belinsky and his girl friend (brunette Playmate) and Bob Gibson and about 20 reporters and hangerson.
Their games had been rained out and they needed to pitch a few innings to get their work in.
In two innings each they struck out 11 batters. And one weak ground out to the second baseman.
They they picked up their gear and the entire group went back to the cliub house, gone by the time we went in.
One of my few brushes with Gibson. The entire time I saw him walking and pitching not one smile, while Belinsky was cracking everyone up even while warming up.
Spahn and Schoendinst (sp) and a few other greats there during my couple of weeks. Single A umpire in wonderland.
few brushes with Greatness, only 1 with Gibson.
My favourite remark about Don Sutton comes from Ray Miller: "Sutton's set such a fine example of defiance that one day I expect him to throw a ball up to the plate with bolts attached."
Spitballs are only illegal if you get caught.
Gaylord Perry admitted throwing spitters....he made it into the hall of fame.
you cant accuse, unless you are the opposing team DURING the game. then it is up to the umpire to inspect the ball and make a decision.
accusations after the fact can only prompt the umpires during the next game to inspect the ball, not cause any actions for previous games.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.