Just mere days after causing controversy by calling Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz a cheater, Dirk Hayhurst is at it again (Who is Dick Hayhurst? Hayhurst serves as a color commentator for Blue Jays television broadcasts and pitched in the major leagues in 2008 and 2009). After the controversy Hayhurst is throwing around more names to defend his position. His new target is Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee.
Hayhurst named Lee in a column today on sportsnet.ca in which he said yes, pitchers cheat. He also calls it "okay".
Pitchers break the law, folks. Some do it in the accepted “it’s only five miles over the limit, officer,” way. Some have big enough names that they can get away with it even when it’s plain for all to see – Cliff Lee’s hat, anyone?
The picture above is from Lee's latest start in Cleveland. I happened to catch a shot of him looking down. His hat seems fine to me. I am sure we have seen a scuffled Cliff Lee hat, but that has come later in the season. Should someone be that committed to cheating, wouldn't they do it from the beginning?
Side note: Remember Joe Blanton's filthy hat? He wore it straight through into the World Series, having them add the World Series patch rather than wearing a new hat.
Here is Cliff Lee in Baltimore in June, 2012:
Here is Cliff Lee in August, 2012:
Do you think he is using his hat to cheat? Lee responded directly to Hayhurst today on Philly.com's High Cheese blog:
"Who's Dirk Hayhurst?"
Exactly.
