Cheating never pays ...

[Frayed Knot]

... except, y'know, for the times it does.

In this case though, our old friend Yadier Molina's chest protector either had some sticky foreign (or maybe even domestic) substance on it or he's found a way to defy several laws of physics.

[youtube:2lgr0y2m]k8UjLR5nvx0[/youtube:2lgr0y2m]

The joke, however, winds up on him and the Cardinals since the batter (Hail Szczr!!) reaches 1st base on the play and later scores on Kyle Schwarber's go-ahead 3R 7th inning HR.
Cubs win 6-4

This is almost as good (and as incriminating) as the time when the cork from Sammy Sosa's busted bat covered the infield like a hail storm, although I don't know if there are any rules specific to this.
Seems to me that coating/spraying the protecter with whatever would be an advantage in keeping the ball from bounding too far away. Or, in this case, a bit too much of an advantage.

[MFS62]

I wonder if he could be suspended under the "Use of a banned substance" rule.
If not, can they pass an "lllegal use of a legal substance" rule?
Please.

Later

[Frayed Knot]

I gotta admit, putting stick'um on the chest protector had never occurred to me before.
When first hearing of this (and prior to seeing the video) I assumed the ball had simply become wedged between individual sections of padding that you sometimes see on certain styles of equipment, but that's
certainly not the case here.

But now there's there's visual proof that not only can it help to reduce a ball's bounce but can pretty much stop it in its tracks, I suspect the league will want to take a closer look at things.
When asked if he put any pine tar or similar substance on his chest protector Molina reportedly answered; "That's a stupid question". Ummm, no it isn't Yadi.

[Centerfield]

Frayed Knot wrote: When asked if he put any pine tar or similar substance on his chest protector Molina reportedly answered; "That's a stupid question". Ummm, no it isn't Yadi.

Should we change his name to Yadier Ducking Molina?

[Guest 41Forever]

I would look carefully to see how many times Molina is casually rubbing the ball against his chest protector before throwing it back to the pitcher.

My suspicion is that the goal isn't to block balls, but to apply a substance to the ball. Think of Kenny Rogers in his Tigers days getting busted with the pine tar all over his hands.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think the Cardinals should be forced to retroactively forfeit the 2006 NLCS.

[Guest Mets Willets Point]

Benjamin Grimm wrote: I think the Cardinals should be forced to retroactively forfeit the 2006 NLCS.

I always support this.