Sports

MLB Pitcher Ejected Before Even Throwing a Pitch — And Has Piece of Equipment Confiscated

Usually a pitcher at least throws one pitch before he gets ejected. Not so in the case of Joel Peralta on Tuesday night.

Peralta, a relief pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays, was called on in the 8th inning of last night’s game against the Washington Nationals. But before he could even throw a pitch, the umpire called a meeting at the mound, confiscated his glove, and threw him out of the game. Why? Well, the Nationals complained that Peralta might have been hiding a foreign substance. When the umpire checked, sure enough he found pine tar in the hand opening of the glove. That’s a no no.

Here’s how it happened live:

“Someone [on the Nationals' bench] had been chirping about pine tar,” Nationals Manager Davey Johnson said after the game, but declined to say who mentioned it. “If somebody has been known to use a foreign substance on their glove or their hat, a nice hot night is the time to use it. And so I asked them to check, obviously he had it.”

“It was a significant amount of pine tar,” umpire crew chief Tim Tschida confirmed. “Inside [the glove], where the hand goes inside.”

But how would the guy on the bench know? Well, in a strange twist of iron Peralta actually pitched for the Nationals in 2010.

As for Peralta, he said the glove was actually the one he usually wears for batting practice.

Johnson, however, said he was hesitant to complain.

“I was hesitant to do it,” Johnson said. “Then Tim [Tschida] was looking at me kind of grinning he said, ‘Oh, what do you want?’ And so I walked out and said, ‘Well, would you check it? Just to make sure. I’m curious.’”

“Well… he pitched here,” he added when asked more specifically about where he got his information. “I don‘t think it’s a secret.”

He offered more details later:

“Yeah, I didn’t just make it up,” Johnson said. “But there [were] conversations before the game. He was out there and I was talking to some of the guys, I said, ‘How’d we let this guy get away?’ I thought he pitched pretty good for us [from what] I saw and then he’s been kind of an invaluable set-up man for Tampa Bay. And one thing led to another and I got probably more information than I really needed. I don’t know, the left-hander put us down 1-2-3, so it was probably a bad move.”

Rays Manager Joe Maddon wasn‘t pleased despite the inning’s outcome.

“It’s kind of a common practice that people have done this for years,” Maddon said. “To point one guy out because he had pitched there, where there’s probably some common knowledge based on that, I thought it was a real cowardly — I’ve used that word twice this year — move.”

To show is displeasure, later in the game Maddon had the umpire check an opposing pitcher’s glove in a bit of gamesmanship.

(H/T: HuffPo)

Comments (57)

1 2
  • 1WhoQuestions
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 7:38am

    Here’s the thing. He cheated and got caught. Now the opposing team knew he was doing it because the pitcher had done it when he was with them. You get caught, own up to it, and don’t do it again.

    If he were caught cheating in the PGA, good luck in ever playing on the tour again. I’m glad golf has that higher standard.

    Report Post »  
  • BigPawz
    Posted on June 21, 2012 at 2:07am

    who, in hell, ever came up with the idea that using a substance to give a pitcher a little more control over his pitches was against somebody’s screwed up definition of the rules? I swear, with people bitching about a little bit of pine tar, somebody using performance-enhancing substances, somebody else grabbing a jersey or pulling on a facemask, there is always somebody whining!! For the love of God, if I was a major-league pitcher, I would hope that if I could find a benefit in using Vaseline to give me a little more control over a baseball when my hands are sweaty, that I could find whoever the numbnuts was that came up with some dumbass regulation against it and drill that ass***e in the back of the head with a 95- MPH fastball. Hopefully, that fastball would behave like a jacketed hollow point bullet and make it entry very small and come out 25 times its size. That would be fitting therapy for a sports related whiner.

    Report Post »  
    • Kaisi
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 8:31am

      Sounds like Bigpawz has been drilled by a couple fastballs. Play the game naturally.

      Report Post »  
  • mcmeador
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:32pm

    So anyone who knows baseball better than I do, please explain what advantage pine tar on the inside of a glove could give to a pitcher. I really don’t understand.

    Report Post »  
    • iLove2fish
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 1:51am

      The ball is covered in leather. The pine tar is a “quick” way to get your fingertips/hand sticky for throwing control type pitches. Watch the pitchers. They take off their glove (and their hand is a little sweaty), wipe their face with their throwing hand (to get it sweaty), then massage the covering of the ball as slightly damp leather is tacky. Then they use the rosin bag to powder their throwing hand (a dry surface against a slightly tacky surface creates a friction of sorts when they grip the damp ball).

      Report Post » iLove2fish  
    • mcmeador
      Posted on June 22, 2012 at 8:06am

      Ah, ok. Thanks!

      Report Post »  
  • GR8INFERNO
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 6:18pm

    They should do the same to Lebron James for using too much powder.

    Report Post » GR8INFERNO  
  • rgpace
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:52pm

    I hate cheaters! Bad message for the kids and insults all good people.

    Report Post »  
  • cerlav
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:25pm

    Oh f’ing brother. This kind of stuff has happened since the very first baseball game and will happen until the very last baseball game. That is the reason you don’t watch baseball? Lame

    Report Post »  
  • SFsuper49er
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:43pm

    This is why i don’t watch it… To many players are trying to manipulate the game in one shape or form. Not for me ! What ever happened to playing on just talent ?

    Report Post »  
    • TheRivuh
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 3:23pm

      As a prior Division I pitcher with a stint in the Minor Leagues I can tell you right now- if you don’t think that at the highest of high levels of competition a guy would do anything to succeed then you are outside of your mind. I’ve tried the pine tar thing in college in scrimmages or in bull pins just to check it out- no effect for me. Some guys got good movement on the ball out of it (especially side arm types). It’s part of the game God bless it! Now quit complaining.

      Report Post » TheRivuh  
    • tommyb89
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:52pm

      So you must not watch any sports. Baseball is not the only sport that this happens. It happens in every professional sports.

      Report Post » tommyb89  
  • facilitiesmgr
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:48pm

    I guess having character and integrity does matter after all.

    Are you willing to have whatever you do put up on the “big screen” for all to see? If not, you have a problem with integrity and should be willing to bear the consequences of having been found out.

    Report Post »  
    • RETIREDOLDGUY
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:21pm

      yup, just like Roger Clemens, Sosa, Bonds, McGuire, etc. (anyone using steroids) should NEVER be voted into the hall of fame. My opinion (not that anyone cares) Rose betting on his own performance is much less worse than cheaters that used steroids.

      Report Post »  
    • PATTY HENRY
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 2:44pm

      Clemens was exonerated. I’m glad they called this. Cheating has no place in life, in our sports, anywhere. I think this is people saying: I’ve had enough of this. One is not made okay by other cheating. Time for a return to honor.

      Report Post » PATTY HENRY  
    • woodyb
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 4:22pm

      @ retiredoldguy –
      “betting on his own performance is much less worse than cheaters that used steroids.”
      ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
      Both are against the rules/laws of the game, right?

      To kill someone by shooting them is illegal, right?
      So is it ‘less wrong’ to kill them by strangulation or by drowning???????????????????

      Cheating, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IS CHEATING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • VinnieSquawker
      Posted on June 21, 2012 at 9:37am

      @Woodyb – When you don’t distinguish between mild indiscretion and egregious violence, everything is the same and nothing means anything. To equate a little pine tar with violent murder is ridiculous. Yes, they are both verboten, but have varying degrees of seriousness. That is how the socialists operate. A little pine tar has been around since the game began. Right up there with mom and apple pie. Steroids, not so much.

      Report Post » VinnieSquawker  
  • JUSTANOTHEROPINION
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:36pm

    OK, you got caught. Much like our nation did after Nixon and we will after Obama, move on.

    Report Post »  
  • TNT1
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:29pm

    encinom
    There you go again talking out your a$$ cuz your head does’nt know better

    Report Post »  
  • MeCpl13
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:09pm

    Oh jeez, the opposing coach says it’s commonplace to cheat, so the Nats were cowardly to mention the Rays being cheaters? LOL.

    Report Post »  
  • garylee123
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:03pm

    Anyone else notice the ball doing some weird wicked stuff now that they allow a pitcher to got to the mouth on the mound?

    Report Post »  
  • 4xeverything
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:59am

    I have a feeling I may be excoriated a bit here but, I’ll ask anyway. What does pine tar do? I guess the stickiness does something specific but what?

    Report Post » 4xeverything  
    • vm8a
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:18pm

      Valid question. It allows the pitcher much better grip of the ball to manipulate it more effectively and thus his pitches are more effective such as putting spin on a curveball.

      Report Post »  
    • mitcha_ca_sux
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:22pm

      Why would you think you would be excoriated? Are you a Lib? Simply put, aerodynamics. Anything that effects aero will make the ball have an un-natural flight path. Pine tar is like a big wing sticking off the side of the ball. Cheating.

      Report Post »  
    • ichbin
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:23pm

      Pine tar allows the pitcher to have a better grip on the ball. Don’t feel bad it took a bit of googling for me to figure that out too…

      Report Post » ichbin  
    • 4xeverything
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:41pm

      Thank you! No, I’m not a lib in any way, shape or form. I just feel a bit red-faced for not knowing something that seems so common about a sport that I love. I’m over it now though. Thanks again for the explanation.

      Report Post » 4xeverything  
    • Redwood Elf
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 5:37pm

      I’ve seen stories of using vaseline instead of tar, which has the opposite effect, making the ball slip out of the fingers at odd angles and spins.

      Report Post » Redwood Elf  
  • Demloather
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:41am

    It‘s Bush’s fault.

    Report Post »  
  • Landon410
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:32am

    the nationals coach pretty much admitted he knew the pitcher was cheating when the pitcher was playing for the nationals

    Report Post »  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:36am

    Agree with Medic506 – I think we need a congressional hearing to determine if charges should be brought.

    Report Post »  
    • silentwatcher
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:51am

      why? it was clearly Bush’s fault!

      Report Post »  
    • Meyvn
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:22am

      The REAL criminals are in the White House not on a pitchers mound.

      Report Post » Meyvn  
    • Pat Magroin
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:33am

      Another chance for Nostrawaxadumass to waste more taxpayer money.

      Report Post »  
    • NSDQ
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 11:35am

      Clearly the umpire was racist and looking closely Im pretty sure he mouthed the word ‘monkey’ to the pitcher … SOMEBODY CALL JESSIE JACKSON!!!

      Report Post » NSDQ  
  • wordweaver
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:35am

    Like this has never happened before.

    Report Post » wordweaver  
  • gunndish
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:35am

    It’s only cheating once they catch you … I’d rather it be pine tar, than Steroids or Human Growth Hormone!

    Report Post »  
  • medic506
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:23am

    I think there should be a congressional hearing on the use of pine tar by professional ball players.

    Report Post »  
    • Machtyn
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:37am

      For those that miss the sarcasm here… ^^^ was sarcasm.

      But seriously. If the rule is “No pine tar.” But everyone* uses it anyway, then why have the rule? If you don’t enforce a rule, then why is it even on the books.

      Report Post »  
    • chazmo
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 1:04pm

      sounds like Immigration Law..

      Report Post » chazmo  
  • wampanoag
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:23am

    Since the plate empire occasionally gets a chance to touch the ball the probably felt the foreign substance.

    Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:35am

      There was No Pitch!

      Report Post » lukerw  
    • TNT1
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:24pm

      These days the umpire only touches the ball when he throws out a new one,so he’s not gonna know.They also start with a new ball every half inning so yiur team;s pitcher will never come across a doctored ball

      Report Post »  
  • mrmarkjohnson
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:06am

    This is like Spygate. The fact that he used to play for the team that caught him is the key. Someone obviously knew what he was doing just like Mangini knew what Belicheat was doing.

    Report Post »  
    • JRook
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:22am

      And similar to those other cases you see the clear sale of integrity. Ejection from the game and a fine is considered adequate. Belichick should have been suspended for the remainder of the year and perhaps even banned from coaching in the NFL. There should be no allusion on where ethics, integrity and honor have gone in the game….. they have been bought and paid for by. Its all about the money now. Nike has more influence on sports than tradition and the game itself. But I guess if everyone is ok with big money interests owning Congress and buying elections, they won’t have a problem with them destroying whatever honor remains in sports. Of course what you see are leading reports about the greedy, bad athletes who dishonor the game. Perhaps they are just demonstrating how little honor there is left. Time to move past the illusion.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:47pm

      Wow Rook,

      All of that typing over a little pine tar story?

      Geeez, you are such a whiny liberal. You act as though this is something new, and even make a comparison to politics? You are funny.

      Now Mr. high and mighty, tell us that you never, ever, ever, cheated just a little on a test, or in a game, or stretched the truth a bit on a resume. DO YOU HAVE HIGH CHEEKBONES?

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:05am

    I was expecting the dreaded

    E M E R Y B O A R D

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • Dismayed Veteran
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:02am

    Pine tar? Pine tar? that ain’t no stinking pine tar. It stuff for my chapped lips.

    Report Post » Dismayed Veteran  
  • lukerw
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 9:52am

    No one expects… The Gestapo!

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • encinom
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 10:35am

      That is the Job of the umpires, to make sure everyone plays by the rules and regulations. Of course someone who is an Ayn Rand cultist, has no idea what fair play means or what are rules and regulations, those cultist believe that cheating is a-okay as long as you win.

      Report Post »  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on June 20, 2012 at 12:50pm

      @ENCINOMUNIST

      Oh……..you mean like the democrats………..yup.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
  • biohazard23
    Posted on June 20, 2012 at 9:46am

    Oops.

    Report Post » biohazard23  
1 2

Sign In To Post Comments! Sign In

Sign Up For Our Newsletter!

Glenn Beck Radio

Listen to Glenn Beck 24/7 Listen Now
Restoring Love