The annual conversation is here: a pitcher has been caught using a foreign substance, hitters don't seem to care, so should baseball just make it legal?
That answer is "no". Pine tar, Firm Grip, and sticky substances of their ilk give pitchers a distinct advantage, especially when throwing breaking pitches. And in case you haven't noticed, pitchers really don't need much help these days.
Coming up with a uniform sticky substance that is legal will only result in strikeouts going up and runs going down.
You know what I'd like to see? Smarter pitchers. You can't put pine tar on the side of your neck with a spatula, like we saw Michel Pineda do a year ago. You can't have a shiny spot right in the middle of your arm that can be seen from the upper deck, like we saw Will Smith do last week in Atlanta. How about a little discretion?
If you're sincerely not trying to cheat and just trying to get a better grip in cold weather, as some pitchers claim, then I have the product for you: Rosewater with glycerin.
The product is designed as a skin protector and toner. It is ideal for chilly days when your hands feel slick. It adds a little bit of moisture and helps aid in grip without crossing the line and cheating. It doesn't make your slider better, it doesn't doctor the ball or alter the flight of any pitches. It's clear, it's undetectable and there's nothing illegal about it.
I was introduced to it in the middle of my career, and it was a staple in the bullpen bag for all my teams afterward. Rub a little in your hands before you warm up, let it dry, and off you go.
Or, if you're going to cheat, be better at it. Everyone wants to look the other way, but they can't when your infraction can be seen from outer space.
