Torre Addresses Pineda Pine Tar Issue, Will Speak With Yankees

Jul 16, 2013; Flushing , NY, USA; MLB executive Joe Torre on the field before the 2013 All Star Game at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: William Perlman/THE STAR-LEDGER via USA TODAY Sports

After a controversial evening that distracted from the brilliance that was Michael Pineda, former Yankees’ skipper and soon to be Hall of Fame inductee Joe Torre addressed the situation in his role of Vice President of Operations for Major League Baseball:

"The umpires did not observe an application of a foreign substance during the game and the issue was not raised by the Red Sox. Given those circumstances, there are no plans to issue a suspension, but we intend to talk to the Yankees regarding what occurred."

My guess, is that Torre will remind former bench coach Joe Girardi that he can’t be so cavalier and obvious about what he knows, and what he doesn’t know when it comes to his players. Cheating is cheating sure, but the “unwritten rules” of baseball come in to play here. The Red Sox, as previously reported, didn’t make a big deal out of the situation because two of their starting pitchers have come under fire for “foreign substances” being spotted on them at different points of the 2013 season. Also, while Torre said no suspension could be issued, how could there be one? As umpiring crew chief Brian O’Nora said last night, nobody reported it, so he nor his crew could act upon it. Closed case, no matter how you look at it, but be assured, that the Yankees, and especially Michael Pineda, will be under the microscope from this point forward.