Joe Torre, MLB’s executive VP of operations, said Friday that Michael Pineda does not face suspension for the foreign substance that appeared on his right hand during Thursday night’s game against the Red Sox.
“The umpires did not observe an application of a foreign substance during the game and the issue was not raised by the Red Sox,” said Torre, the former Yankees manager. “Given those circumstances, there are no plans to issue a suspension, but we intend to talk to the Yankees regarding what occurred.”
Pineda was captured in pictures with a shiny, brownish substance near the palm of his right hand early in the game. After the pictures swept across the Internet and became a discussion point on the broadcast of the game, the substance was not evident in later innings.
Pineda said afterward he does not use pine tar as a substance to gain grip on the baseball during cool nights. He said the discoloration was a combination of dirt and sweat.
It is against the rules to add such substances on the ball. But it is nevertheless a common practice among pitchers to gain tack and control on what becomes a harder, slicker baseball in the cold. In general, opposing teams do not complain because a) there is a decent chance their pitchers are doing the same and b) hitters want to make sure the pitchers know where their pitches are going.
Pineda allowed just one run in six innings to earn the victory in his first start at Yankee Stadium.