Baseball is a popular game in America and across many parts of the world. It is enjoyed by people of all ages. From little league baseball through the major leagues, the players love playing and the fans enjoy watching.
Every now and then we will see a baseball team push the limits with trying to take certain advantages in the game to provide an edge. Pine Tar is a substance that has caused many debates and issues in the game of baseball.
Some wonder if pine tar is even legal in major league baseball and the short answer is yes and no. it is fine for certain players, such as hitters, to use it in a certain manner. However, for pitchers it is illegal according to the rules that govern Major League Baseball.
Why Do baseball Players Use Pine Tar?
Pine tar is a sticky substance that is produced by high carbonization of pine wood. It is used to help hitters get a better grip on the bat. In the MLB, wood bats are all that is allowed and the pine tar is used to provide a better grip for the hitter. Overall, the hitter can perform better when there is a comfortable grip on the bat.
A hitter must feel comfortable with their grip in order to be able to handle 90 plus mile per hour pitches and breaking balls that look like they are coming straight at the hitter before curving and catching a corner of the plate.
Many hitters throughout baseball will use batting gloves and pine tar to provide a grip that allows them to reach their maximum performance levels. There are limitations on how much pine tar can be used and how high up the bat the pine tar can go.
One of the most difficult things to do is to swing a bat without a quality grip. If a hitter even feels the least bit uncomfortable with their grip, it impacts performance. Hitters rely on their line tar to ensure and provide the confidence needed to hit a 95 mile per hour fast ball.
You will see many hitters with the pine tar all built up in their batting helmet. They will touch their helmet between pitches to ensure they have enough line tar on their batting gloves.
Overall, having used pine tar when we played at sportswarrior365, it can provide a very comfortable grip and on those hot, sweaty days you don’t have to worry about the bat flying out of your hands.
This can help the hitter and also ensure that those in attendance at the game stay safe from bats propelling into the stands. All too often, we see bats at the MLB level launch into the stands and potentially hurt someone.
Why Do Pitchers Use Pine Tar?
Let’s start off by making it clear that pine tar use by pitchers is illegal in the rules of baseball. Some pitchers will try to use pine tar illegally to provide an extra sticky substance for their grip on the ball, which can help the ball spin more or make the ball move in ways it might not normally.
The interesting part about baseball, is that you might often hear the term that “if you aren’t cheating, you aren’t trying” While we disagree with this approach at sportswarrior365, this is one way that players try to justify these situations in their own head.
Remember that millions of dollars are on the line and that next contract a player might be able to sign for performing at certain levels can be life altering. We still don’t condone this action, but understand why players may be willing to take the risk at this level.
With the analytics of baseball and all of the measurements that are occurring at each game, hopefully, the difficulty of getting away with cheating will increase.
We promote a clean approach to the game, where the best players and teams can win the games. The analytics now measure spin rates that pitchers throw and outlier performance might point back to these types of situations.
Trevor Bauer in 2018 called out the Houston Astros for doctoring baseballs and using pine tar to increase spin rates overnight.
While sort of rejected at the time, the findings and results of the cheating scandal that the Houston Astros were involved with utilizing banging of garbage cans to let the batter know what pitch was coming, makes Trevor Bauer appear to be onto something.
When spin rates increase dramatically, there is a chance something illegal is taking place. The great thing about analytics is that it may help reduce pitchers gaining an unfair advantage through illegal methods.
How to solve the problem?
Close analytical studies with the high definition cameras that are at many of the major league baseball games, if baseball wants to reduce any cheating it has the technology and data to call out and possibly catch teams or players trying to get an edge.
Baseball is stepped in traditions of trying to steal signs from second base or picking up on the signs a 3rd base coach is giving, which is all considered a part of the game. This culture of trying to do these things may have led to bigger and more socially unacceptable methods that some teams have resorted to.
With high power cameras and open access in center field, combined with technology that can buzz and be worn by a player at the plate, the possibilities are endless for those willing to take the risk. Close management by MLB will be essential to cutting down on this behavior.
Does Pine Tar Work?
Yes, it is a very sticky substance that provides a great grip, both for hitters and for pitchers. While acceptable for hitters to utilize, it is not acceptable, according to the rules, for pitchers to utilize.
The safety benefits of hitters using it should help hitters use the argument that it is needed to keep people at the stadium safe and the other players on the field. When wood bats break in games and the barrel goes flying there are already issues with that.
Pine Tar in Baseball Controversy?
One that comes to mind is the George Brett incident from the 1980s. Brett had hit a ninth inning home run, but the manager from the opposing team challenged that Brett had used the pine tar illegally.
The umpire ruled in favor of the manager of the Yankees. The game was then protested and the protest was upheld.
Check out George Brett’s reaction in the video below. It is quite classic!
A more recent situation was with Michel Pineda, who was a pitcher for the New York Yankees. He had placed pine tar on his neck while pitching against the Boston Red Sox. It was quite obvious to the umpires and the HD cameras that there was pine tar on his neck. He wasn’t very good at getting away with breaking the rules.
Check out the details at the video below.
Where Pitchers Hide Pine Tar
Pitchers will place pine tar on their glove hand wrist or right in their glove. If they use a minor amount, they can sometimes get away with this approach.
There are many incidents over the years of batters seeing something different and then umpires going out to check out the pitcher or a ball that has recently been used.
Other Ways Pitchers Cheat
Pitchers will often try any method to create more spin or make the ball move in different directions. This little bit of extra movement is often times enough to provide a competitive edge. Although illegal, pitchers push the limits. Here are some of the methods:
Sand Paper – A pitcher would put a little sand paper in their glove to help scuff up a baseball, which can cause it to move more like a knuckleball.
Thumbtacks – A pitcher in the 1980s attempted to use a thumbtack to scuff up the ball. He was called out by opposing players and later ejected by the umpire, but not before cutting his forehead.
Emery board – Yet another way to change the cover of the ball, by removing a portion of the baseball. An Emery board of nail file can be used to make this happen.
Pine Tar Summary
Pine tar is great for hitters and should be used in a legal manner. It provides an opportunity to perform at a higher level without impacting the integrity of the game. The game was not designed for pitchers to use pine tar to increase spin rates and make hitting more difficult.
Baseball has a long history of spitballs, pine tars, nail files and other substances or tools utilized to try to help the pitcher gain an advantage.
Baseball also went through the steroid era and now is trying to survive the Houston Astros who cheated their way to a World Series victory. Our takeaway is to work hard to get better and play the game in an honest method.
The game is meant to be played with integrity. We encourage our players and kids to work hard and do things the right way. Win or lose, you know that you played the game the right way.
Take Action…
If you are looking to get better as a player or are a coach or parent of someone that loves baseball there are many ways to get better and improve in the right ways. We provide some videos below on some of our favorite drills.
One of the best things about living in this time is that there are plenty of resources and top end coaching for players regardless of where they live. All you need is an open field, a bat, a ball and a glove and you can be on your way to getting better.
Of course, players need to bring their desire to get better and a willingness to study the recommendations of the best coaches and watch the better players closely to see what they are doing and how they do it! Stick with the game and it will treat you right!