A reader suggested checking out a weird spot on Bobby Jenks’ cap. In the tradition of the K-rod photos, I present this low-quality still:
I would say “now that’s what a light dusting of resin looks like”. Other cloud-like interpretations welcome.
{ 2007 04 09 }
Nathan Flores | 09-Apr-07 at 11:22 am | Permalink
I suggested taking a look at this because it’s the same thing as K-Rod. However, I have not heard the same grief about Jenks as I did about Rodriguez. This is more blatant than Frankie’s spot, but to me, they both look like resin. Which is a legal substance.
DMZ | 09-Apr-07 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
It’s not legal to have it on your uniform, though — even if that’s not enforced.
I don’t see this as being as substantive as Rodriguez’s example, though, for a couple reasons: beyond it not being as heavy, in the video footage, you never get to see Jenks, say, rub his thumb in it for a couple seconds, like you can see Rodriguez do in the Opening Day footage.
John S. | 09-Apr-07 at 1:06 pm | Permalink
When I saw this I immediately thought of KRod’s incident and then thought…what if he made the spot so big and obvious that no one would suspect him of so blatantly using a foreign substance. KRod gets suspicion because his spot looks deliberately placed and concealed. Jenks’ spot looks like he left his cap on the floor of the bullpen. Who would you suspect of cheating?
I agree with DMZ though. I watched intently and they never showed him touching it. And the Twins were making every pitcher look good that day so its hard to say if it had any effect.
Matt | 09-Apr-07 at 2:20 pm | Permalink
I think the whole “the simplest explanation tends to be the right one” mentality applies well to these situations.
In the case of Jenks, the simplest explanation is obvious: he had some rosin on his hand, and probably simply put on his hat. How do most people put on their hats? Yup, hold the back with one hand and pull the bill over the front. C’mon … that is pretty much a palm print there.
But what is the simplest explanation for KRod? I for one, think it hard to attribute it all to rosin and sweat. I think that is a stretch. If it is leftover rosin from his fingers, why just that one spot? His other fingers clearly touch other spots on his hat. Sweat? On the END of the brim of your hat? It isn’t like hand sweat + rosin = some sort of cream that you have to wipe off. Hasn’t anyone used rosin? Just apply logic. The simplest explanation is that he had a little personal rosin stash under his cap that he dipped his thumb into. No big deal. It is just rosin. I understand it is technically against the rules … but that is part of the beauty of baseball (as I think this operator of this blog firmly believes).
I heard one commentator mention that the rules technically state that is a batter takes both feet out of the batter’s box in between pitches, an automatic strike is to be called. Similarly, if a pitcher takes more than a certain amount of time (I want to say 11 seconds, but I don’t remember) to come to the plate with no runners on base, an automatic ball is to be called? Can anyone confirm/negate this? In any case, just because it is in the rulebook doesn’t mean it should always been enforced. That’s my point. And, rightly so, I think umpires generally do a good job with it.
hedge | 09-Apr-07 at 6:21 pm | Permalink
Dude, its Bobby Jenks. It’s obviously powdered sugar from his last box of donuts.
Typical Idiot Fan | 10-Apr-07 at 2:56 am | Permalink
Gonna have to go with “dude got a crapload of rosin from the bag on his hand and put his hat on”, or something similar.
Frankie rubbed his thumb in something and we all watched him do it. Actually, if Jenks had gone to the rosin bag and put a ton of powder on it, then thrown a pitch, we could have seen the Perry Puff-pitch.
I laughed when I read about him doing that. Hong Kong action flix use this trick to give a fight more “oomph”. The idea is that if they cover a guy in dust, and then have him get hit / kicked, the dust flying makes it look as though the impact of the blow is harder.
So from now on, I can only think of Gaylord Perry throwing a Puff-ball and bad dubbing.
Chris Misenis | 10-Apr-07 at 10:34 am | Permalink
Yeah, you see this a lot with some pitchers who don’t necessarily adjust the brim of their caps, but through years of repetition, touch certain parts of their uniforms. John Rocker (eek) comes to mind when he pitched, he’d always adjust the back of his cap with the ball in hand (here’s an example: ttp://archives.cnn.com/2000/US/01/28/atlanta.image/rocker.braves.jpg). Though mentally explosive, I wouldn’t say he doctored the baseball. Jenks’ case is pretty similar.
hedge | 10-Apr-07 at 1:59 pm | Permalink
Saw the book at B. Dalton bookstore at Northgate and bought it for $13.95. Looking forward to reading it and laughing. haha !
Elbridge Condee | 12-Apr-07 at 12:06 pm | Permalink
You’ll always see this With Bobby. He loads up with rosin. If you could see the front of his cap he also always has a heavy dusting of rosin on the top right hand side of the bill. It means nothing.
Wallywojo | 14-Apr-07 at 6:07 pm | Permalink
OK, I am a Sox fan so I will let you in on his ritual. Each outing before he taks the bump for his first pitch he takes the rosin bag and dabs on the back of his hat. This is the reason it looks circular as it is the bag itself that he places on his hat. I don’t know why he does it, but this is reason how it got there.
bPhrea | 10-Aug-07 at 12:36 am | Permalink
There’s not much benefit to having the back of your cap loaded up with rosin when there’s a full bag of it just behind the mound… If I wanted a little more grip I’d wipe a gob of that clear pine tar or white grip stick stuff right down in the crotch of my baseball pants (the outside). Then, on the mound, I just happen to be adjusting that darn jockstrap/cup again…