So here’s the video:
Personally, I think Mariano is spitting on the ground, not the ball. I’ve looked at this video a few times, and I think it’s a tricky angle. I think the people who are eager to jump to conclusions are partisans. But they, of course, could say that about me. Here’s what inarguable. The video is inconclusive. That doesn’t prevent the Boston Dirt Dogs site or Halos Heaven from pronouncing Mariano’s guilt. But then again, those sites are run by idiots.
And then I came across this video taken from a completely different view. The camera here is set up on the first base side. It shows what happens over a five minute period. The clip, I believe, clears the Great One from any wrongdoing:
18 replies on “Mariano: Guilty or Not?”
Joel sherman says MLB has cleared Rivera of wrong doing. As the linked articles points out, Mo is constantly spitting on the mound. I think this has to be the camera angle.
http://bit.ly/3MK4ud
or, even less plausible, he has somehow been doing this in high pressure situations for fifteen years without anyone noticing?
I’ve never heard a whiff of this before today. Not even a whiff. It’s stupod.
Not. It was a stupid idea to even bring this up. I guess that blog got what they wanted, traffic, probably at the expense of their credibility.
“probably at the expense of their credibility”
That’s like saying Paris Hilton did something yesterday at the expense of her virginity.
Even if Mo spit on THAT ball, which he didn’t, he would then have to spit every single time he threw a pitch or every time they changed the ball. What a stupid development.
just a silly, stoopid accusation. I would imagine he’d be a wee bit more subtle if that’s what he’d been doing for umpteen years and not look like some dude on his front porch spittin’ toe-backy juice.
Never heard of him doing this before, so this is stupid. If he does it again and it’s on camera though, then investigate further.
That’s like saying Paris Hilton did something yesterday at the expense of her virginity.
Posted by: IronHorse | Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 02:32 PM
This post: 10/10
As if something this ridiculous really needs a debunking–
http://deadspin.com/5385945/spit-takes-debunking-the-mariano-rivera-loogie-accusations/gallery/
OK YFs, if MLB’s backing is credible in Mo’s favor, is the league’s backing credible in the case of Ortiz / NYT steroid report this summer?
Because what a thread about absurd spitball accusations really needs is absurdly off-topic steroid discussions.
This is pretty stupid.
Also, if he’s facing toward 2B, err.. isn’t Mathis on 2nd? As a catcher, (along with Mike S) I’m almost certain that they would’ve notice something if the ball was moving funny.
“OK YFs, if MLB’s backing is credible in Mo’s favor, is the league’s backing credible in the case of Ortiz / NYT steroid report this summer?”
So the NYT = Boston Dirt Dogs blog. I know the mainstream press has rightfully been knocked down a few notches in recent years, but is this a serious parallel you are drawing beth? Not to mention the nature of the “backing up” you reference. I don’t recall mlb saying “we looked at what David Ortiz tested for and it was conclusively a false positive”.
On second thought, let’s please not go here with this. It’s really a silly leap. People who think Ortiz is innocent as Mariano that’s just fine and those who think he is as guilty as A-Rod that’s fine too. And if we have to enter the debate again between said camps, let’s do it on another thread if there really is interest, but I really doubt that there is. There is October ball to be played tonight!
Oh, and thanks for the 10 Atheose. The Romanian judge gave me a 6.5 so I’m particualrly grateful to you.
It’s a patently bogus story: No one throws a spotter by dropping a loogy two feet down in plain sight (though the defense that he would have to do this every pitch is nearly as brainless.)
It’s just funny how for some, the league is corrupt, dishonest and enabling cheating on one issue, and nothing it says can be believed, but its word is being held up as credible on another allegation of cheating. That’s all I’m saying.
No, spitballs =/= steroids and BDD =/= NYT. Also, I don’t think Mo threw a spitball either. Just noting that the league’s credibility seems to fluctuate wildly. ;)
I agree with this post. The guy who runs Dirt Dogs is an idiot. And based on a cursory look at Halos Heaven and all of the gratuitous references to Nick Adenhart, I’d have to agree with that that guy is an idiot, too.
No need to comment on Mo. (I mean, right there in the middle of the field?)It is what it isn’t.
…
This story reminded me of one of the great headlines ever, when Teddy F. Ballgame spit toward the fans: “Great Expectorations”
Couldn’t tell you which publication had it, though. Might have been Sporting News.
And I don’t think it’s bad to bring it up. First, you’ll note that we’re all pretty much in agreement that it looks worse than it is.
Second, because Beth’s point of: “It’s just funny how for some, the league is corrupt, dishonest and enabling cheating on one issue, and nothing it says can be believed, but its word is being held up as credible on another allegation of cheating.” … is completely and absolutely valid.
“…I don’t recall mlb saying “we looked at what David Ortiz tested for and it was conclusively a false positive”….”
me either, IH…as i recall, their “comment” was more of a “no comment”…mlb dismissed the rivera “incident” for the silliness that it is…the point beth is missing is not that the credibility of mlb was in question this time, but rather, the credibility of a guy who is considered one of the most upstanding guys in baseball…the “evidence” was evident of nothing…case dismissed…mixing the 2 allegations [ortiz and rivera] was just a weak attempt at misdirection…