Jacob deGrom cheating accusation reveals problems: Sherman

Let’s assume Jacob deGrom is innocent. That he has not doctored baseballs en route to one of the best pitching runs in MLB history. That he has reached ace-of-the-sport status, and comparisons to 1968 Bob Gibson, the old-fashioned way — with talent fueled by athleticism, adaptability, attitude and aptitude.

This just adds to the sins (and sadness) of a widespread cheating scandal. It makes us unable to differentiate the clean from the dirty. It soils greatness as we wonder how that greatness was achieved. DeGrom very possibly has done nothing other than be brilliant. A detailed statistical breakdown of his pitches reveals no overt signs of guilt. Yet in this environment … DeGrom was ensnared in the scandal du jour when video surfaced of him reaching inside his belt area then directly rubbing near the webbing of his glove, creating a very modern social media frenzy. Was he — like so many pitchers — applying a sticky substance to improve the spin and effectiveness of his pitches, when that action is drawing larger scrutiny than ever?