It’s an open secret inside the game: Pine tar, and other grip substances, can help a pitcher increase their spin rate. I’ve been asked not to write about it by more than a few pitchers ...

New York Yankees pitcher Michael Pineda essentially said the same thing after getting ejected from an April 23 game against the Boston Red Sox in which he was caught with pine tar on his neck.

The first one on the list aired Tuesday night and needs no introduction other than this: The Pine Tar Game. If you’re a certain age (and lived in a certain media market), you bolted out of your ...

Pitchers have used pine tar for decades, though most players are smart enough to be discreet about the well-known practice. Several questions arise from Wednesday night’s embarrassment at Fenway ...

Or so it looked. After examining the bat, home-plate umpire Tim McLelland ruled that Brett used excessive pine tar and called him out, overturning the home run and ending the game. Or so it looked.