Brendan Donnelly was recently suspended by MLB for 10 games for having pine tar found on his glove during a game against the Washington Nationals. On ESPN.com they listed every player suspended since 1970 for cheating, the length, and what made them guilty of cheating. Here is the list: S. Sosa, 2003, 7 games, Corked bat B. Moehler, 1999, 10 days, Sandpaper W. Guerrero, 1997, 8 games, Corked bat C. Sabo, 1996, 7 games, Corked bat A. Belle, 1994, 6 days, 7 games, Corked bat J. Howell, 1988, 2 games, Pine tar K. Gross, 1987, 10 days, Sandpaper B. Hatcher, 1987, 8 games, Corked bat J. Niekro, 1987, 10 days, Emery board G. Perry, 1982, 10 days, Spitball R. Honeycutt, 1980, 10 days, Thumbtack My question: How the hell does all this stuff help you cheat in baseball?
Roughing or applying a foreign substance to the surface of a ball allows you better grip and also causes the ball to have more movement. Corking a bat makes the bat lighter, thus easier to swing. By creating quicker bat speeds you can increase your power.
Corked bats give the ball more pop. Pitchers altering the ball gives the ball more movement, which are what all of the others are.
Another old trick - hollow out a bat. Then take a kid's super-bouncy ball and use a file to grate down the rubber. Then pack the rubber filings into the bat. This can be called 'corking' a bat, and it gives the bat a ton of spring when the ball hits it.
