​From time to time, we find ourselves curious about a topic and do some digging (we're contractually obligated to use this word in every post). So here, for your edification, the nectar of our mind grapes.





Yankees starter Michael Pineda was ejected from Wednesday night's game against the Red Sox in the second inning after Boston manager John Farrell noticed a foreign substance had appeared on his neck. To be fair, it was blatantly, almost insultingly obvious.

Umpire Gerry Davis inspected the noticeably darker area, and upon confirming it was pine tar, booted the Yankees star from the mound.

"What's the big deal?" you might be asking yourself right now. "Isn't pine tar traditionally used in baseball?" Allow us to explain.

What Is Pine Tar?

Pine tar is a tacky substance produced by the high temperature carbonization of pine wood (duh). Traditionally, it was used as a sealant for maritime purposes, but today it is also used in soaps, shampoos and treatments for certain skin conditions.

Pine Tar's Traditional Place In Baseball

You know how sticky tree sap is? If so, you have a general idea of how sticky pine tar can be. Major League Baseball still requires players to use wooden bats. Since they can be quite slippery, league rules allow players to add up to 18 inches of pine tar to aid in grip. The better the grip on the bat, the more loosely a player can grip it, allowing for more "pop" and less stinging when contact is made with the ball.

The Official Rules Of Baseball

Major League Baseball Rule 8.00 governs behavior for pitchers. Subsection 8.02 clearly states: "The pitcher shall not apply a foreign substance of any kind to the ball." That means any substance. Even spit balls are illegal. The penalty for violating this rule is immediate ejection from the game, and a possible suspension.

But Does Pine Tar Even Help Pitchers?

The flight pattern of an unmodified baseball is predictable. Grip it in different ways (along the seams, across the seams, or with the knuckles) and the flight path of the ball is altered in a predictable manner. But predictable is also hittable. Adding a foreign substance or modifying the surface of the ball in any way — scuffing it for example — alters the typical flight path and makes the ball more difficult for batters to track and make contact with. Pine tar in particular is said to improve a pitcher's grip in cold weather.

OK, This Probably Happens All The Time. Why Is This Instance Such A Big Deal?

On April 10th, Pineda started another game against the Red Sox. In this game, it was also obvious that he was using pine tar. As baseball writer Dirk Hayhurst put it, "There was enough pine tar, Firm Grip, Valvoline or Jell-O pudding on the palm of his throwing hand, and back of his glove hand, that most of the Internet thought he had just watched the movie Naked Gun before taking the mound."

In this instance, Boston manager John Farrell didn't complain to the umpires and MLB decided not to punish him. Even Red Sox slugger David Ortiz didn't mind, telling a reporter after the game, "Everybody uses pine tar. No big deal."

Here's why this is a big deal: Pineda was caught cheating red-handed two weeks ago. He was called out by fans, by the press, by his opponents, by the Internet, and lectured by his own team management. Yet he decided to do it again. It's not just insulting to the purity of the game, it's insulting to our intelligence.

What Will Happen To Pineda?

As previously explained, applying a foreign substance to a baseball is a major violation of MLB rule 8.02 that results in immediate ejection from the game. However, the league has some freedom when determining further punishment.

Suspensions are rare and have occurred only three times in the last decade. In 2012, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Joel Peralta was caught using pine tar on his glove and was eventually suspended for 12 games. Brendan Donnelly was also found with the substance on his glove and served an eight game suspension while playing for the Angels in 2005. The Cardinals' Julian Tavarez got creative and tried hiding pine tar on his cap back in 2004. He served a 10-day suspension.

The Yankees expect a similar punishment for Pineda.





UPDATE: Major League Baseball has suspended Pineda for 10 games. The suspension is set to begin before tonight's game in Boston, unless the Yankees file an appeal.