Pine tar has long been a controversial substance in baseball. Batters have used it to improve their grip on the bat, especially in cold weather conditions. However, too much pine tar on a bat can give batters an unfair advantage. This has led to some famous pine tar controversies in baseball history. Let’s explore this fascinating topic with 57 pine tar riddles and their answers!
Pine Tar Basics
Before we get to the riddles, let’s review some pine tar basics:
– Pine tar is a sticky substance made from pine wood. It helps improve batters’ grip on the bat, especially in cold weather when bats can get slippery.
– Rule 1.10(c) limits how much pine tar can be applied to a bat. It states that the bat handle may be covered up to 18 inches from the bottom of the bat.
– Too much pine tar beyond 18 inches is illegal because it can give batters an unfair advantage by allowing them to hit balls farther.
– Umpires will inspect bats and remove them from the game if they have too much pine tar on them.
– Some famous pine tar controversies have erupted when star players were caught with too much pine tar on their bats.
Pine Tar Riddles
Now let’s get into the 57 pine tar riddles!
Riddle 1
What substance made from pine wood helps baseball players grip the bat?
Answer: Pine tar
Riddle 2
True or false: Pine tar can only be applied to the bottom 18 inches of a baseball bat.
Answer: True
Riddle 3
Which MLB rule limits how much pine tar can be on a bat?
Answer: Rule 1.10(c)
Riddle 4
What happens if an umpire finds too much pine tar on a batter’s bat?
Answer: The umpire will remove the bat from the game.
Riddle 5
Why might a batter try to use too much pine tar on their bat?
Answer: To get an unfair advantage by hitting the ball farther.
Riddle 6
Which sport uses pine tar to help players grip bats?
Answer: Baseball
Riddle 7
What tool do umpires use to measure pine tar on bats?
Answer: A ruler
Riddle 8
Why is pine tar especially helpful in cold weather?
Answer: It improves grip when bats get slippery in the cold.
Riddle 9
If 18 inches of pine tar is allowed, how many inches are illegal?
Answer: Anything over 18 inches
Riddle 10
True or false: Pine tar has caused controversies in MLB history.
Answer: True
Riddle 11
What gives batters an unfair advantage according to baseball rules?
Answer: Too much pine tar on their bats
Riddle 12
Which position are players most likely to use pine tar when batting?
Answer: Batters/hitters
Riddle 13
What color is pine tar?
Answer: Brown
Riddle 14
Where is pine tar typically applied on a baseball bat?
Answer: The handle
Riddle 15
What are the two main reasons batters use pine tar?
Answer: For grip and to hit farther
Riddle 16
If a bat has 20 inches of pine tar, can it be used in an MLB game?
Answer: No, that is illegal.
Riddle 17
What might a batter do if they are caught with too much pine tar?
Answer: Try to wipe/scrape off the excess pine tar
Riddle 18
True or false: Pine tar is made from pine seeds.
Answer: False, it is made from pine wood.
Riddle 19
What does the “c” in rule 1.10(c) stand for?
Answer: The “c” stands for “clay, paraffin, or like substance.”
Riddle 20
Which substance is sticky and improves grip?
Answer: Pine tar
Riddle 21
What might happen if a batter’s hands slip off the bat during a swing?
Answer: They might lose control of the swing or miss the ball.
Riddle 22
What does a cold bat feel like without pine tar?
Answer: Slippery
Riddle 23
If pine tar exceeds the legal limit, what is a batter obligated to do?
Answer: Remove the excess pine tar immediately.
Riddle 24
How far up the bat can you legally apply pine tar?
Answer: 18 inches from the bottom.
Riddle 25
How many inches on a bat can be covered in pine tar before it becomes illegal?
Answer: 18 inches
Riddle 26
True or False: Umpires want batters to use pine tar in cold weather.
Answer: True, for safety and playability.
Riddle 27
Why might a batter complain about an umpire ruling their bat illegal due to excessive pine tar?
Answer: They want to use that bat to hit better and don’t want to change bats mid-game.
Riddle 28
If a bat has 19 inches of pine tar, is it allowed in an MLB game?
Answer: No
Riddle 29
What action causes the pine tar controversy in baseball?
Answer: Players using too much pine tar on their bats.
Riddle 30
Why might a manager ask an umpire to check the opposing team’s bat for too much pine tar?
Answer: To try and get the bat ruled illegal and gain an advantage.
Riddle 31
If pine tar exceeds the legal limit during an at-bat, what happens to any balls hit prior?
Answer: They still count, it is not retroactive.
Riddle 32
How does enforcing the pine tar rule help ensure fair play?
Answer: It prevents batters from gaining an unfair hitting advantage.
Riddle 33
Why might pine tar application be controversial even within the 18 inch legal limit?
Answer: Some pitchers/teams argue it still provides an illegal advantage.
Riddle 34
If a player touches the pine tar on their bat before every pitch, what might happen?
Answer: The umpire could require them to change bats.
Riddle 35
How has bat technology impacted the pine tar controversy over time?
Answer: Some argue modern bats don’t need pine tar for grip due to design.
Riddle 36
Why are umpires tasked with pine tar enforcement during games?
Answer: As impartial judges of MLB rules and fairness.
Riddle 37
If a player refuses to change bats after one is ruled illegal, what might happen?
Answer: They could be ejected from the game.
Riddle 38
Why might batters be wary of using too much pine tar in cold weather games?
Answer: Fear of being caught and penalized by umpires.
Riddle 39
How might pitchers and hitters feel differently about pine tar use?
Answer: Pitchers worry about fair play, hitters want maximum grip and hitting ability.
Riddle 40
If you see a brown sticky substance 18 inches up a bat, what is it likely?
Answer: Pine tar
Riddle 41
How can umpires judge if a bat has too much pine tar?
Answer: Visually inspect it and use a ruler to measure from the bottom.
Riddle 42
If a bat is colder to the touch, what might a batter do?
Answer: Add more pine tar to warm it up.
Riddle 43
What happens if pine tar exceeds 18 inches when applied in the dugout only?
Answer: Nothing, it only applies during live game play.
Riddle 44
Why is pine tar predominantly a cold weather concern in baseball?
Answer: Bats get slippery in the cold without added grip.
Riddle 45
If a player refuses to remove excess pine tar when instructed, what might an umpire do next?
Answer: Eject them from the game.
Riddle 46
What did George Brett famously do after an umpire ruled his bat illegal due to pine tar in 1983?
Answer: Stormed out of the dugout angrily to protest.
Riddle 47
Why might baseball players be tempted to bend the pine tar rules?
Answer: For improved performance/grip and hitting farther.
Riddle 48
If pine tar exceeds 18 inches during a game, when does enforcement happen?
Answer: Only when a team protests or umpire notices.
Riddle 49
How did MLB clarify the pine tar rules after famous George Brett incident?
Answer: By placing umpire responsibility for enforcement.
Riddle 50
How can teams use the pine tar rules strategically to their advantage?
Answer: By protesting opponents’ bats to get them tossed from games.
Riddle 51
If pine tar is suspected, what might the umpire do before measuring?
Answer: Touch the bat first to gauge if it’s sticky.
Riddle 52
How did MLB’s pine tar controversy around star players increase its fame?
Answer: Media coverage and debate over fairness made it high profile.
Riddle 53
Why does pine tar cause less controversy in warm weather baseball games?
Answer: Less need for grip and hitting advantage.
Riddle 54
What best resolves close pine tar judgment calls by umpires?
Answer: MLB instant replay reviews.
Riddle 55
How could bat companies potentially reduce pine tar controversies?
Answer: By designing optimal grip into bats.
Riddle 56
Why does MLB limit pine tar use instead of banning it completely?
Answer: For safety reasons and cold weather playability.
Riddle 57
If a player continues using a bat with excessive pine tar after a warning, what might happen?
Answer: The umpire can eject them from the game.
Conclusion
In conclusion, pine tar has been a controversial substance throughout baseball history. While it helps improve grip in cold temperatures, too much can provide an illegal advantage. Umpires are tasked with enforcing pine tar rules by inspecting bats and removing illegal ones from games. Famous players from George Brett to Michael Pineda have caused pine tar controversies when caught with too much on their bats. Understanding the history and riddles around pine tar helps explain why it remains a debated baseball topic to this day.
