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Ask Hal: No more spitballs, but scuffing remains an art form

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By Hal McCoy, Contributing Writer Updated 8:51 PM Saturday, October 22, 2011

Hall-of-fame baseball writer Hal McCoy knows a thing or two about America’s pastime. If you’d like to tap into that knowledge, send a question to halmccoy1@hotmail.com. For more Ask Hal, log on to DaytonDailyNews.com/reds.

Q I’ve been invited to a Halloween party and thought about going as Dusty Baker, but the thought of a toothpick in my mouth and having to make bad decisions all night turns me off, so any suggestions? — Dave, Miamisburg/Centerville/Beavercreek

A Go as yourself with a sign around your neck that says, 'I’m Dave from M/C/B.’ But be sure to wear a football helmet, baseball chest protector and hockey goalie pads. And, for sure, don’t let anybody talk you into dunking for apples.

Q Has the spitball/Vaseline ball left baseball? The break on some balls seem to be the same as when they were loading up. — Don, Harlingen, Texas

A To my knowledge, the substance ball ended when Gaylord Perry retired. With the development of the split-finger, which reacts like a spitter, pitchers no longer do Vaseline or K-Y jelly commercials because they don’t use the stuff (well, not to doctor baseballs). However, scuffing baseballs or nicking baseballs to make them dive and dart remains an art form practiced by many.

Q An umpire recently awarded a base-runner home plate because of obstruction by the third baseman when it appeared the runner would score anyway. Didn’t that rob the hitter of an RBI? — Bill, Buford, Wyo.

A I know the population of Buford (I’ve been there) is '1’ and the one resident isn’t named Bill. So unless you are an antelope (there are more antelopes than people living in Wyoming), you aren’t from Buford. Anyway, on an obstructing the base-runner call, the batter does get the RBI.

Q It drives my wife nuts that at the end of a baseball game the winning teams only shake hands with themselves and not the other team as happens in the other sports. Has this always been the case? — Mike, Hamilton

A I always like when hockey teams line up and skate past each other shaking hands when you know they’d like to whomp the other guy with their sticks. While it looks good, sportsmanship and all, sincerity usually is missing. I’ve covered baseball 40 years and never once saw opposing teams shake hands after games. Why? I don’t know. Heck, even boxers hug after a match, even if one is so bloodied he can’t see the other guy.

Q Shouldn’t center field be up for grabs, because there are far too many strikeouts by Drew Stubbs? — Timothy, Dayton

A Not yet, despite his 205 strikeouts. Unlike Nixon asking for four more years, I’d give Stubbs one more year. Yes, he struck out 205 times, but he stole 40 bases and hit 15 home runs. What I find amazing is that he hit only one sacrifice fly and was walked intentionally only once all year, over 158 games. As long as they don’t put him at leadoff, I believe he is worth looking at for one more year. But another year of 200 strikeouts and a .243 batting average will be enough for me to wish him well in another uniform.

Q How do you compare the talent level of this year’s two World Series teams to the teams of the 70s, 80s and 90s? — John, Springboro

A I don’t compare because it is a different time and a different era. You are asking me to compare two teams to 60 World Series teams over 30 years. Some were great, some were average and some were mediocre. Yes, the game has changed and obviously St. Louis manager Tony La Russa believes starting pitchers are paid to pitch five innings or less.

Q If you were the Reds general manager, what kind of offer would it take to get you to part with Joey Votto this coming year? — Carl, Kettering

A You’d have to knock my socks off, along with my gloves and my hat to get Votto right now. In these harsh economic times it seems obscene to say Votto is a bargain in 2012 at $9.5 million, but in the fantasy land of baseball, he is. Check his numbers against other first basemen who are older than he and making $15 million and up per year. Ask me the same question at this time next year.

Q Is baseball the only business where you can drink on the job and keep your job the way the 'Fed’ Sox did? — Mark, Bloomington, Ind.

Q Well, wine-taster comes to mind. And how about the guy who tastes the beer as it is being brewed? I applied for the Yuengling job, but they knew I’d do more than taste it, so I was turned down. Alcohol is not furnished in the clubhouse by the teams, so the players had to bring it in themselves, unless they heavily tipped a stadium vendor. And the closest thing I know to a baseball clubhouse is a frat house. Like collegians, baseball players do drink a little beer. But the Red Sox really brewed up a brouhaha with this one, didn’t they?

Q How can any team have food delivered to a major-league clubhouse like the Red Sox did? — Jeff, Troy

A Easy. Just like you have Donato’s delivered to your home. You dial your cell phone and ask for delivery. Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn used to hand a clubhouse attendant a $100 bill and tell them to hop into their Mercedes or Bentley and go to McDonald’s and buy the entire team breakfast. And the attendant got to keep the change, but not the cars. Clubhouses are catered by outside delivery all the time and once in awhile Griffey would flip me a sausage and egg McMuffin.

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