Buchholz and spitters

[Reefer]

I'm sure many have heard about the accusations about him throwing a spitter. I know there are some older Giants fans here who might have seen Perry pitch. It seems so well known he did, was it talked about all the time then? Was it common for many pitchers to do this in that time? Why don't we hear more about this now? I figure with so many trying to get a physical advantage legally and illegally, why would more pitchers today not being trying to doctor the ball all they can. And if they are, why do we so rarely hear about it.

I know lots of questions, just a real interesting topic to me that I know little about and I know there is a lot of knowledge on this board.

 

[msgkings322]

I was too young to see Perry pitch, but my would be to note how radically different sports fandom and sports journalism is now. Today it's 24/7 coverage of the sport (all major sports) with every little detail of every player laid out and dissected all day and night by 10 networks and the internet. Every pitch of every game is available to watch in glorious high definition.

In Perry's day if the game was on TV at all it was grainy black and white with really bare bones graphics. Most fans probably had no idea he threw spitters and if they did it was from hearing some player complain about it in the press perhaps.

I guess my point is you almost can't compare the eras in terms of coverage and what we 'hear about' and such.

 

[SF11704]

I saw Perry pitch and yes it was talked about. Back in Perry's day it was just another pitcher's tool. As things progress through the years so did the spitter. Mike Scott was accused of scuffing the baseball with sandpaper hidden in his glove. Another pitcher (can't remember who) used to have vaseline spead out underneath the bill of his cap. He'd take his cap off to wipe his head and load up on the grease. There was also some other pitcher that had a small knife like object in his belt. He used it to cut into the cover of the ball. If there was a way to physically affect ball flight you can bet that some pitcher at some time .... tried it. Back in Perry's time I can still remember Don Drysdale (Doggie pitcher) pitching a game agaist us and seeing some of the most dramatic ball movement I have ever see a baseball take. Grease, spit, sandpaper, what have you ... didn't matter ... the ball just moved all over the place

 

[Heathbar012]

I saw Perry pitch and yes it was talked about. Back in Perry's day it was just another pitcher's tool. As things progress through the years so did the spitter. Mike Scott was accused of scuffing the baseball with sandpaper hidden in his glove. Another pitcher (can't remember who) used to have vaseline spead out underneath the bill of his cap. He'd take his cap off to wipe his head and load up on the grease. There was also some other pitcher that had a small knife like object in his belt. He used it to cut into the cover of the ball. If there was a way to physically affect ball flight you can bet that some pitcher at some time .... tried it. Back in Perry's time I can still remember Don Drysdale (Doggie pitcher) pitching a game agaist us and seeing some of the most dramatic ball movement I have ever see a baseball take. Grease, spit, sandpaper, what have you ... didn't matter ... the ball just moved all over the place

I remember the Scott rumors from when I was growing up. My dad joked once, after three straight warning track jacks by Thompson/Clark/Mitchell, "What does he need to scuff the ball for? He has the Astrodome."

 

[calsnowskier]

I remember the Scott rumors from when I was growing up. My dad joked once, after three straight warning track jacks by Thompson/Clark/Mitchell, "What does he need to scuff the ball for? He has the Astrodome."

And now they play in Minute Maid. What a shock to the system that transition was. I still find it hard in my gut to think of the Astros as playing in a band-box.

 

[Heathbar012]

And now they play in Minute Maid. What a shock to the system that transition was. I still find it hard in my gut to think of the Astros as playing in a band-box.

Does it help that it's oddly shaped, sports a mound of grass in center field and has a train running through it?

 

[calsnowskier]

Does it help that it's oddly shaped, sports a mound of grass in center field and has a train running through it?

I LOVE unique parks!

I was at a fan meet 'n greet with Magowan back in '95 or '96 and they had a model of Pac Bell in the room. It was the first I had seen any designs of the new park and I commented to him that I loved the fact that a lot of parks were going away from the cookie-cutter format (Camden had JUST opened, and I think BOB, The Ballpark and Jacobs were either about to open or had just opened as well) and he agreed that the new parks were a big advantage that most teams were taking advantage of.

I was living in Miami at the time, and the fish still played in that nasty park called ProPlayer (at the time). Combo stadiums were such a horrible generation of parks. I am glad that age is over.

Edit:

Actually I remember specifically talking about the mound in CF at Enron (before it was renamed) and comparing it to ProPlayer, if that helps date this event I went to...

 

[Heathbar012]

I LOVE unique parks!

I was at a fan meet 'n greet with Magowan back in '95 or '96 and they had a model of Pac Bell in the room. It was the first I had seen any designs of the new park and I commented to him that I loved the fact that a lot of parks were going away from the cookie-cutter format (Camden had JUST opened, and I think BOB, The Ballpark and Jacobs were either about to open or had just opened as well) and he agreed that the new parks were a big advantage that most teams were taking advantage of.

I was living in Miami at the time, and the fish still played in that nasty park called ProPlayer (at the time). Combo stadiums were such a horrible generation of parks. I am glad that age is over.

Edit:

Actually I remember specifically talking about the mound in CF at Enron (before it was renamed) and comparing it to ProPlayer, if that helps date this event I went to...

Oh, I like it, too. My parents went to a Hou-SF series at Enron (Never Forget), and loved it. I trust their opinions. However, the hill is a bit much. I get the historical nod, but maybe stuff that can potentially injure people should be left in the past. I'd still love to see a game at The Juice Box, though.

 

[calsnowskier]

Oh, I like it, too. My parents went to a Hou-SF series at Enron (Never Forget), and loved it. I trust their opinions. However, the hill is a bit much. I get the historical nod, but maybe stuff that can potentially injure people should be left in the past. I'd still love to see a game at The Juice Box, though.

Who can forget the first year when Biggio was running back on a fly ball and tripper on that thing. Hilarious!