Is Cliff Lee Cheating?
Michael Kay of the YES Network and 1050 ESPN Radio has made an accusation against Rangers’ ace Cliff Lee. Kay accused Lee of loading up the ball using the resin that is on his hat. Along with Lee’s sweat the resin could become sticky giving him a better grip on the baseball. Kay has said, “I would think that’s illegal”, referencing Lee’s hat. What Michael Kay is basically trying to say is Cliff Lee is cheating. If Joe Girardi decides to make an issue of Lee’s hat during the ALCS does it affect his decision to sign with the Yankees in 2011? Here are some pictures of Lee’s “dirty” hat both from last post season with the Phillies and this season with the Rangers: 
Cliff Lee with the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2009 World Series at Yankee Stadium
Cliff Lee with the Rangers during the ALDS in St. Petersburg
I’m not an expert but why shouldn’t the hat be examined? It seems a little strange that the hat is dirty only on part of the rim like it was done on purpose.
October 15, 2010 at 9:32 pm
I agree with you! If it is a concern to anyone at all it should be examined. If Cliff Lee is truly not cheating and has nothing to hide he probably would agree but if he doesn’t than even more speculation will begin. If the Yankees beat Lee in game 3 the questions go away, if Lee beats the Yankees a whole new series of questions begin.
October 18, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Nope Riz. Nobody ever accuse Cliff Lee of doctoring the baseball. I heard stories about the retired player Kenny Rogers doing it.
October 17, 2010 at 2:31 am
Actually if you read the Daily News Postseason Special there is an article where Michael Kay, the television voice of the Yankees, blatantly accuses Lee of loading up the baseball.
October 17, 2010 at 11:31 pm
Well, I haven’t read the particular Daily News article you mentioned, nor have I listened to Michael Kay talk about the subject, but after some research I found an article about Lee’s rosin hat. However, without even reading the article first, I do not understand how having rosin on your hat would be illegal or considered cheating. Rosin is not a banned substance, in fact there is a bag of it right behind the mound for any pitcher to use as much as he desires. And while Lee may have rosin mixed with sweat on his hat, I would have to imagine that the rosin bag mixes with sweat when used as well, creating the same effect. My point is, using rosin in any shape or form, is not cheating.
Now, onto the aforementioned article. In this article, Lee admits to having rosin on his hat. Here’s some quotes worthy of note.
“It definitely makes me pitch better,” said Lee, sarcastically. “I know that much. Without that hat, I don’t think I could do it.”
“What it is, is rosin,” said Lee. “I go to the rosin bag quite a bit. I touch my hat in the same place over and over and it just accumulates.”
“It’s rosin,” he said. “It’s available to everybody.”
The article also mentions that Joe Girardi has no problem with Lee’s rosin.
http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2010/10/cliff_lee_cheating_thats_a_cap.html
October 18, 2010 at 7:42 pm
The only reason I brought up Girardi is that he would be the one to bring this to the attention of the umpire if he desired. Then the umpire would most likely make Lee change his hat to one without the accumulated resin. It’s not banned but at one time the infamous spit ball wasn’t banned either. After all it’s only saliva that is available in everyone’s mouth. Do you see where I’m going with this? I don’t personally know if I think Lee is cheating but this post got attention like I wanted it to and the more attention we can bring to the Yankees Chase for 28 the better.
October 18, 2010 at 11:38 pm
Okay, well I guess this subject doesn’t seem as ridiculous to you as it does to me.
October 18, 2010 at 11:47 pm
We usually do have varying view points. lol
October 19, 2010 at 12:10 am