# Hey ESPN, it was a corked bat. That's it. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 5, 2003, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868 "2003-06-05T17:04:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Coriolanus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/coriolanus/32/18769_2.png) [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/41 "2003-06-06T08:24:57Z")
[The Heaviest Bat in the Major Leagues](http://www.avesonline.org/sports/Mens/Baseball/Roush.htm) I’d thought Babe Ruth wieled a bat upwards of 50 oz and Shoeless Joe also toted a heavy-arse bat. Edd. J. Roush had the heaviest, so says this link. The appropriate punishment for Sammy is a 50 oz bat and he has to call his home runs and he will pitch to David Wells this weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Andy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/aeb1de/32.png) [@Andy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/42 "2003-06-06T10:37:08Z")
The thing I can’t get my head round is if you’ve got a bat which is illegal to use, wouldn’t you mark it in some way, so as to avoid exactly this kind of possibility? Or am I being thick? Or is Sosa’s excuse of making a mistake so pathetically transparent? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/43 "2003-06-06T11:06:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Weirddave \* > **76 other bats were confiscated from Sosa and tested, and none of them were corked. In my mind this goes a long way to supporting his claim that he picked up a practice bat by mistake** Wouldn’t a corked practise bat would have the words **Corked Practice Bat** (or some other marking) printed over all over it _precisely_ to stop this sort of mistake? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/44 "2003-06-06T11:07:53Z")
That question is also available in English, something like: Wouldn’t a corked practise bat have the words Corked Practice Bat (or some other marking) printed all over it precisely to stop this sort of mistake? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_great_unwashed/32/4791_2.png) [@The\_Great\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Great_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/45 "2003-06-06T11:10:23Z")
Oh, that was **Andy** ’s question. Clearly this is not a good day for me. practice, practice, practice… ---
**Author:** ![Myrr21](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e495f1/32.png) [@Myrr21](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myrr21)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/46 "2003-06-06T11:16:58Z")
Well, supposedly the bat had a big “C” on the top, which could stand for corked. Or Chigaco. Or Cubs. > [@](#): > > Breaking the rules doesn’t necessarily constitute cheating. When someone calls false start on the Chicago Bears offense they aren’t accusing them of cheating. Breaking the rules can be done quite accidentally and the rules penalize teams accordingly. But there are plenty of intentional fouls all the time. Linemen routinely hold and work not to get caught. But nobody throws them out of the game when they do. Soccer players tackle the player rather than the ball. Jordan took extra steps knowing that the refs would let him get away with it. In some sense, all of these players are cheaters, but they’re minor flouting of the rules and you could call them “cheaters”. Corking’s a bit worse than those, but it’s still not point shaving or anything. ---
**Author:** ![More\_Cowbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@More\_Cowbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/More_Cowbell)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/47 "2003-06-06T12:01:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\*First of all, your cite merely says that Sosa was accused of beatring his wife. I knew that already – you accused him, for one. The question is: how credible were the accusations? What were the results? I actually meant to respond to this but apperently ComEd feels the need to have power outages in my neighborhood about 2 times a month now. I’ve known about the Sosa accusation for years as well. It was quite upsetting that when Wil Cordero was signed by the White Sox that all they talked about was his spousal abuse in the past. Yet they say nothing of Sosa, as it happened before he became a star. Do you have any idea about spousal abuse, about how many women in the world (let alone the US) are beaten by their husbands and it never has “results”? It’s fucking sad. My mother “accused” my father of spousal abuse in her divorce papers. Was my dad ever convicted? Nope. Police called (back then it wasn’t such an issue)? Why bother, they wouldn’t help. So the only official record of my dad beating the tar out of my mom was the accusation in the divorce proceedings. I lived through it, it happened. So the word “accused” doesn’t hold as much weight with me as with other people when it comes to this area. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/48 "2003-06-06T13:00:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThunderBug \* > \*\*I’ve known about the Sosa accusation for years as well. It was quite upsetting that when Wil Cordero was signed by the White Sox that all they talked about was his spousal abuse in the past. Yet they say nothing of Sosa, as it happened before he became a star. \*\* Well, of course, the obvious difference being that Cordero pled guilty to, and was convicted of, spousal abuse while no such thing has happened to Sosa. Sosa may very well have abused his wife. But you do not know that. So don’t go around saying he did. Get it? ---
**Author:** ![Flymaster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c4cdca/32.png) [@Flymaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flymaster)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/49 "2003-06-06T13:20:36Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MGibson \* > \*\*Breaking the rules doesn’t necessarily constitute cheating. When someone calls false start on the Chicago Bears offense they aren’t accusing them of cheating. Breaking the rules can be done quite accidentally and the rules penalize teams accordingly. > > Someone who cheats is making a willful choice to flout the rules of the game. If Sammy accidentally had a corked bat then he’s not a cheater. \*\* What about all those times Brett has intentionally grounded the ball? He was trying to get away with something, and got caught. Similarly, just about every offensive lineman has intentionally clipped a player, or held someone that they were losing their grip on. EVERY cornerback and saftey has intentionally interfered with a reciever because it would have been a sure touchdown, at some point in their career. Ray Bourque got into fights, and I’d bet large sums of money that more than once he took a dive to win a call. Jordan travelled. Every day, Jordan travelled. And he did that because he knew he could get away with it. Some say that Jordan fouled that guy (Mark Price?) at the end of a playoff game. He got away with it. Corking a bat IS a more significant offense than this. But it’s also a lot less significant than what Pete Rose did. That deserves a ban for life (and believe me, I’m very much against Selig reversing that punishment). It’s just a rule in the book. And history has shown it to be worth an 8-10 game suspension. I see no reason that the fact that it’s Sammy Sosa and not Graig Nettles should change that. In fact, the only thing that should change that is the fact that it was likely accidental (although, it wasn’t totally accidental, as he was aware of the bat’s existance, so he SHOULD be punished). ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/50 "2003-06-06T13:38:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThunderBug \* > **Liar? Maybe you should talk to your wife more. She may be a terrific lawyer, but the Secretary of State doesn’t have good things to say about the system she works in.** OK - fair enough. I should have asked, “According to what source is the DR deficient in the area of human rights; where is the DR relatively ranked among Latin American nations for human rights abuses?” According to [Amnesty International](http://www.amnestyusa.org/annualreport/)’s report, the United States has more human rights abuses than does the DR, as well as a death penalty, which the DR does not. So I could make an argument that if the DR is bad, the US is worse. Which seems a counter-intuitive result. Still, I grant you that the US government’s report on DR human-rights problems is not to be taken lightly. It was, however, taken out of our original context, which my foolish lashing out at you enabled you to do. I should have calmly pointed out that the DR’s human rights record, relative to other countries similarly situated, is good – that is, better than average, not worse, and therefore your slur against them was misplaced and intellectually dishonest. I notice, by the way, that while you made an effort to support that prong of your attack, you conveniently dropped the “accused” of spousal abuse business, which was a wise move, since the documentation for this is slight at best. Your turn, moron. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/51 "2003-06-06T13:44:46Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThunderBug \* > Do you have any idea about spousal abuse, about how many women in the world (let alone the US) are beaten by their husbands and it never has “results”? It’s fucking sad. My mother “accused” my father of spousal abuse in her divorce papers. Was my dad ever convicted? Nope. Police called (back then it wasn’t such an issue)? Why bother, they wouldn’t help. So the only official record of my dad beating the tar out of my mom was the accusation in the divorce proceedings. I lived through it, it happened. So the word “accused” doesn’t hold as much weight with me as with other people when it comes to this area. As I read the above, it seems to carry _more_ weight with you – that is, when you hear an accusation of spousal abuse, you tend to give it a fair about of credence, based on your personal experience living in an environment in which you were a witness to “undocumented” spousal abuse. I’m very sorry to hear about your family situation. But just because it happened in your family, and other families, does not mean we may conclude it happened in Sosa’s family. - Rick ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/52 "2003-06-06T14:35:24Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Myrr21 \* > \*\* He should be banned for life for point-shaving or taking the bat to a catcher’s head. People are caught with corked bats; it happens. They get 10 game suspensions, and that’s the end of it._\* Actually, the punishment for [taking a bat to a catcher’s head](http://www.neilleifer.com/picture.php?pict=1503&page=1) has been established as [a week suspension and $1750 fine](http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/ballplayers/M/Marichal_Juan.stm). ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/53 "2003-06-06T14:44:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Flymaster \* > **What about all those times Brett has intentionally grounded the ball?** Done in plain view. \*\* > [@](#): > > Similarly, just about every offensive lineman has intentionally clipped a player\*\* Done in plain view. \*\* > [@](#): > > or held someone that they were losing their grip on. \*\* Done in plain view. \*\* > [@](#): > > EVERY cornerback and saftey has intentionally interfered with a reciever because it would have been a sure touchdown, at some point in their career\*\* Done in plain view. \*\* > [@](#): > > Jordan travelled. Every day, Jordan travelled. And he did that because he knew he could get away with it. Some say that Jordan fouled that guy (Mark Price?) at the end of a playoff game. He got away with it.\*\* Jordan traveled in plain view, so did others. \*\* > [@](#): > > Corking a bat IS a more significant offense than this. > \*\* Can you guess why? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/54 "2003-06-06T14:52:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Myrr21 \* > \*\*But there are plenty of intentional fouls all the time. Linemen routinely hold and work not to get caught. But nobody throws them out of the game when they do. Soccer players tackle the player rather than the ball. Jordan took extra steps knowing that the refs would let him get away with it. In some sense, all of these players are cheaters, but they’re minor flouting of the rules and you could call them “cheaters”. Corking’s a bit worse than those, but it’s still not point shaving or anything. \*\* Corking clearly lies at a different level than those things, though. A basketball player taking an extra step or a hockey player grabbing a stick isn’t “cheating,” they’re just playing the game and assuming the risk of incurring the appropriate penalty (losing the ball/two minutes in the box.) In those cases, those behaviours are expected and the rulebook is structured to deal with them. Corking a bat, however, is a deliberate _deception._ When Jordan takes his extra step he’s doing it in plain view. Corking a bat is something you do before the game in secret. It’s cheating. That’s why Sosa should get 10 games. Throwing a game or point shaving, or even CONSPIRING to do so, is something totally different and the only correct punishment is permanent banishment from professional sport. ---
**Author:** ![More\_Cowbell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@More\_Cowbell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/More_Cowbell)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/55 "2003-06-06T16:12:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Bricker \* > \*\*OK - fair enough. I should have asked, “According to what source is the DR deficient in the area of human rights; where is the DR relatively ranked among Latin American nations for human rights abuses?” According to [Amnesty International](http://www.amnestyusa.org/annualreport/)’s report, the United States has more human rights abuses than does the DR, as well as a death penalty, which the DR does not. So I could make an argument that if the DR is bad, the US is worse. Which seems a counter-intuitive result. Irrelevant. We are talking strictly about the DR. You wanting to comparisons to other countries is simply weaseling out of appologizing for calling me a liar. And now I’m a moron too? > [@](#): > > Still, I grant you that the US government’s report on DR human-rights problems is not to be taken lightly. It was, however, taken out of our original context, which my foolish lashing out at you enabled you to do. I should have calmly pointed out that the DR’s human rights record, relative to other countries similarly situated, is good – that is, better than average, not worse, and therefore your slur against them was misplaced and intellectually dishonest. Calmly would have been nice. And how exactly was it taken out of context. You asked about the DR Human Rights situation, I provided you with information. I see nothing dishonest or anything taken out of context. Relative to other countries? Again, stay on the subject here, the DR. Did you even read the link for the DR on Amnesty? > [@](#): > > Killings in disputed circumstances by police and military lessened somewhat following the appointment of a new head of the National Police. However, such killings continued to be reported. Some of those killed were reportedly shot during demonstrations in protest at electricity shortages while others were killed in alleged “exchanges of gunfire” with security forces. Oooo, lessened somewhat! Bastion of hope the DR police are. :rolleyes: More from [Amnesty International](http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engAMR270062001?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES%5CDOMINICAN+REPUBLIC?OpenDocument&of=COUNTRIES%5CDOMINICAN+REPUBLIC) > [@](#): > > Amnesty International’s areas of concern – which were also highlighted by the Committee – include: [ul] > [li]Illegal killings by security forces and the widespread impunity enjoyed by those responsible;[/li][li]Serious allegations of widespread cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of detainees;[/li][li]The deterioration of prison conditions, resulting from extreme overcrowding and the lack of a specialized corps of prison guards;[/li][li]The increasing number of people in prolonged pre-trial detention;[/li][li]The existence of a separate judicial system for the police, which is incompatible with the principle of equality before the law;[/li][li]The treatment of Haitians and suspected Haitians, including frequent reports of mass deportations and of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.[/li][/ul] Would you trust the police in this country? If this is better than average, I don’t want to know worse. Is that bug so far up your ass that it is whispering in your ear, telling you that I’ve slighted the people of the DR and in particular your wife? That bug is the liar and the moron, not I sir. If that is what you perceived, than I appologize. The fact remains that the DR IS lacking in the Human Rights department, specifically in its police force. And if your wife is working in that system, more power to her. > [@](#): > > As I read the above, it seems to carry more weight with you – that is, when you hear an accusation of spousal abuse, you tend to give it a fair about of credence, based on your personal experience living in an environment in which you were a witness to “undocumented” spousal abuse. Your damn straight it carries more weight with me. And I’d say that most spousal abuse is undocumented. Child abuse carries weight with me as well, and I’d bet that most of that is undocumented as well. As well as date rape. Who’s side do you take on those situations? Who do you give the benefit of the doubt to? Experience these things in your life, then get back to me, mmmkay. > [@](#): > > I’m very sorry to hear about your family situation. But just because it happened in your family, and other families, does not mean we may conclude it happened in Sosa’s family. I’m not looking for sympathy, thanks anyway. It doesn’t mean we can conclude it didn’t happen either. I can’t find anything on Sammy denying the charge, does that mean he did do it? Someone said they have always heard Sammy was a good guy. I said I’ve heard differently and provided a cite as such. ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/56 "2003-06-06T17:20:18Z")
Well he got 8 fucking games. So much for integrity ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/57 "2003-06-06T17:39:14Z")
Can somebody clarify the exact rule that Sosa broke? MLB, obviously doesn’t have a rule that specifies a “corked” bat. Craig Nettles had filled his with superballs and got suspended, most likely, by the same rule. My feeling is that 8 games is fair, and in line with similar offences in the past. What I don’t like about Sosa is the way he starts whining when he get a little negative scrutiny. Sure, it is great to be in the spotlight when everything is going great and the public loves you, but by that same token, the public is going to find out that you screwed up. That is the nature of celebrity in this day and age. It looks like the Cubs are going to appeal the suspension. They shouldn’t. Intentional or not Sosa broke the rules and the punishment needs to be served and then everybody can move on. ---
**Author:** ![jeevmon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/87869e/32.png) [@jeevmon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevmon)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/58 "2003-06-06T17:45:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by adam yax \* > \*\*Can somebody clarify the exact rule that Sosa broke? MLB, obviously doesn’t have a rule that specifies a “corked” bat. Craig Nettles had filled his with superballs and got suspended, most likely, by the same rule. > > My feeling is that 8 games is fair, and in line with similar offences in the past. What I don’t like about Sosa is the way he starts whining when he get a little negative scrutiny. Sure, it is great to be in the spotlight when everything is going great and the public loves you, but by that same token, the public is going to find out that you screwed up. That is the nature of celebrity in this day and age. > > It looks like the Cubs are going to appeal the suspension. They shouldn’t. Intentional or not Sosa broke the rules and the punishment needs to be served and then everybody can move on. \*\* The rule is that the bat has to be a single continuous piece of wood. As far as appealing the suspension, I suspect that it was handed out as it was to ensure that Sosa could appeal in time to be available for the Yankees series. It’s a big series and potentially big TV draw, especially Saturday’s game, which features Roger Clemens going for 300 against Kerry Wood going for 50. Having Sosa in it benefits the league more than having him out of it. They’d much rather have him serve his suspension when the Cubs are playing the Brewers or something. ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/59 "2003-06-06T18:20:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by World Eater \* > \*\*Well he got 8 fucking games. > > So much for integrity \*\* Yes. How dare MLB hand down a punishment consistent with what they have given for that offense in the past! ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2003, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868/60 "2003-06-06T18:47:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ThunderBug \* > I’m not looking for sympathy, thanks anyway. It doesn’t mean we can conclude it didn’t happen either. I can’t find anything on Sammy denying the charge, does that mean he did do it? Someone said they have always heard Sammy was a good guy. I said I’ve heard differently and provided a cite as such. Actually, that’s exactly what it means. You make the claim: you must provide the proof. If you can’t provide the proof, we can conclude that the claimed event didn’t happen. As to the DR human rights record… I think it deserves a thread of its own. Here, I’ll simply say that you’re correct in that no request for a comparson was made; you provided proof of what you said, and I withdraw my opposition to what you said, while still contending that knowing more to the story would paint a clearer picture. I also apologize for the “moron” business. I shot the first insult at you to illustrate the point that merely being accused does not make reality, and that subsequent to my insult, anyone else could truthfully say you were accused of being disease-riddled. The moron business was uncalled for, lent nothing to the discussion, and I apologize unreservedly for it. - Rick [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hey-espn-it-was-a-corked-bat-thats-it/179868.md?page=4)