Home / Sports / Pitcher's Neck Mystery: Cheating Allegations Erupt
Pitcher's Neck Mystery: Cheating Allegations Erupt
1 Oct
Summary
- Sonny Gray's neck sparked pine tar allegations in Game 2.
- Images of a substance on Gray's neck went viral on social media.
- The Red Sox playoff run ended with these cheating accusations.
Images of Sonny Gray's neck during Game 2 of the playoffs fueled allegations of "sticky stuff." The substance, appearing on the back of his neck, quickly went viral on social media, leading many to suspect illegal use of pine tar. This controversy emerged as the Red Sox experienced a disappointing first-round playoff exit.
The appearance of the substance wasn't noted until the fifth inning of Gray's start. Despite the visual evidence and accusations from various sources, including a media company MLB invested in, the pitcher did not address the issue postgame. Umpires also did not intervene during the game, adding to the debate surrounding the situation.
Questions arose regarding the timing of the controversy, especially with Gray being a veteran pitcher who hinted at retirement. Furthermore, the article notes the difficulty of using "sticky stuff" given modern MLB's stringent inspection policies after every inning. Manager Alex Cora's decision to remove Gray after 70 pitches also drew attention amid the allegations.
