Screengrab, via HalosHeaven.com, of Mariano Rivera spitting on a baseball before he delivered it to the plate yesterday in Game 3 of the ALCS against the Angels.
Some will argue optical illusion, but what makes it clear to me is the way Rivera is holding the ball. Why else would he be gripping the ball in that manner, between his thumb and forefinger?
Video after the jump.
Yankee apologists will argue that Rivera spit away from the ball. But then why would he be holding the ball that way at exact the same time?
MLB is bogging the whole protest down with a confusing, Zapruder-esque argument. That there’s no conclusive video evidence that saliva struck baseball.
Amazing that Rivera would be so brazen. Is this an isolated case? Probably, as with multiple camera angles for every game, I don’t think he could’ve gotten away with that sort of thing all these years.
1:40 pm on October 20th, 2009
Gaylord Perry approves.
1:48 pm on October 20th, 2009
It is OK to spit on the ball as long as you are not on the mound.
2:13 pm on October 20th, 2009
No wonder he has been so effective with one pitch that everbody knows is coming…it’s a freakin spit-ball!
3:30 pm on October 20th, 2009
Having seen enough Yankee games in my life, I seem to remember him going through that same routine, minus the spitting, nearly everytime out. Back turned, looking at the ball in the same manner, like he’s praying to the ball. Maybe thats how he’s been so effective. He prays to a peice of leather. All this time, I’ve been praying to a toilet.
3:43 pm on October 20th, 2009
Spitballs aren’t allowed because not even the pitcher knows where they are going. Mariano has probably the most consistent delivery in history and impeccable control. Does that really sound like a spitballer. BTW Major League baseball has already commented that they have found nothing to the video. Slow it down and you will see he spit on the ground.
1:29 pm on October 21st, 2009
Yankees suck.