Frontpage Features

BY SCREAMIN' BILL LEEMAN

There has been much speculation lately about the humidor in Colorado, that the humidified balls are being unfairly dispersed.  Could the Rockies be supplying the ump with un-humidified balls when the Rockies are batting, and humidified balls when their opponents are up?

Suspicions begin to mount when some of the Rockies' batters take bad swings and a ball that would normally be a pop-up carries into the stands.   Or the sound the batted ball makes off of opponents bats when compared to the sound off of the Rockies' bats.   Players and coaches have been talking about this for awhile.

Then, if you take a look at the stats, they seem to confirm the suspicions:

Rockies win loss record at home  (51-24) and away (31-43).  

Their team batting average at home (.306) and away (.230).

Slugging percentage at home:  .506      On the road  .357

Rockies home runs at Coors field (102)     On the road (61).          

No other team in either league shows such a huge discrepancy in their home/away statistics.

This much we do know:   The Colorado Rockies are in sole control, without supervision, of the disbursement of the balls.   Would it be a good idea for Major League Ball to make sure that the system is monitored?   Of course, but then Bud Selig is in control of Major League Ball, so 1you know that's not gonna happen.  

When the question "What's to prevent supplying the ump with non-humidor balls when the Rockies are batting?" was asked of Kevin Kahn, the Rockies' vice president of ballpark operations, he replied, and I hope you're not drinking milk right now, because it may come out your nose, "The integrity of our manager and coaching staff would prevent that..."

Now, anyone that thinks that the Rockies wouldn't take advantage of the situation should listen for the 'pop' as they pull their head out.

Now, let me see:  I have some balls that I need to send out to the umpire.   Some are humidified, some are not.  Only I know which ones are which.  One ball, when hit, will go ten miles, the other, about twenty-five feet.  Hmmm...   Our team is up, and if we win, we may go to the playoffs and/or the World Series.   Now, let me see.... Which ones should I send out?   Hmmm...?

ARE YOU KIDDING ME???   This isn't some kid's game, on some playground somewhere.   This is the real world, this is for people's livelihoods,  and this is for LOTS of money, and SCADS of glory!   Could they be switching the balls?   Ya think?

Players, managers, coaches, and entire team staffs have been devising ways to 'get an edge' since before any of us were born.  Steroids, HGH, and other performance enhancing drugs are not new.  Just more sophisticated.  All MLB clubhouses in the fifties had bowls of bennies to help players get through the long, exhausting season.   Corked bats?  Stealing signs?  ALL teams steal signs from ALL other teams ALL the time.  Scuffing the ball?  Throwing a spitter?   How many pitchers have been caught over the years with sandpaper in their gloves?  Everyone is trying to get an edge.  

This is how it works in the real world.  Here is a quote by former manager George Bamberger from the book "The Baseball Codes" by Jason Turbow:  "Professional baseball players are paid to win games.   There are rules, and consequences for breaking them.   As a pro, the decision to cheat is not based on right or wrong, but whether you can get away with it, and what the penalty may be.  A guy who cheats at a friendly game of cards is a cheater.  A pro who throws a spitball to support his family is a competitor."

It was bad enough when we learned that some players were doing steroids and HGH.   Then, as it gradually came to light, we sadly realized that no one was innocent.   That we couldn't depend on any player to be clean, and for the most part, whenever a player had a great streak of any kind, we'd automatically suspect drugs, and most of the time we were right.  

It is so disheartening.  

But, as sad as that is, at least the playing field was level.   Everyone had access to performance enhancing drugs, corked bats, and spitballs.  

In this case, the playing field is not level.   No other team in baseball uses a humidifier.   It is absurd that the Rockies are in total control of the balls, and it is ludicrous to think that they wouldn't 'choose' which ball to use, when so much is riding on it.

Could the Rockies win the West because of doctored balls?   Seems like a possibility.   If this is so, then after the outrage and anger about being ripped off, comes a much deeper feeling:  The feeling of profound heartbreak.

"Say it ain't so, Joe, say it ain't so...."