Yesterday, I listened to ESPN’s Baseball Tonight podcast from May 3. In it, Jayson Stark spoke to Tim Kurkjian and Richard Griffin from the Toronto Star about pitchers doctoring baseballs. The topic came about after Blue Jays broadcasters accused Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz of adding something to the ball in his May 1 start.

Stark, Kurkjian, and Griffin were all clear about one thing: Pitchers adding stuff to the ball is neither novel nor atypical. If it’s so prevalent, yet still against the rules, what’s the big deal?

According to the rules, there’s no gray area: a scuff is the same as some spit, which is the same as pine tar. It’s all banned.

I think there should be a gray area. Spit, scuff, grease, and the like should stay banned. But I have no problem with a little extra grip. Obviously, things would get grayer and more subjective.

What do you think? Tell me in the comments.