Is Jake Peavy Doing Dirty Work in San Diego?

After beating the L.A. Dodgers by going nine strong on Saturday, Jake Peavy has started out as the best pitcher in the majors.  He is now 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA.

Thanks to Hi-Def television, this photo was snapped of Peavy during the game on Saturday.  Either he has shook hands with Kenny Rogers, changed someones tires during the seventh inning stretch, or he has some explaining to do.  

Peavy did comment on Sunday, from the San Diego Union-Tribune:

"Anybody that wants to check me, feel free. There's nothing on my hands that's not supposed to be. I thought it was funny that it was such a big deal. I've got no problems with anytime anybody needs to check me.

"I can't imagine my hands being that dirty. That being said, you're hand doesn't look clean when you're out there. Obviously I pick up rosin, pick up dirt, I do hit."

The problem is that this is happened recently with Kenny Rogers for the Tigers.  Except Rogers hand did look a little worse. 

One is easy to be suspect after the start Peavy has had, but lets not get carried away here, he is a good pitcher. In my opinion, he is better than Johan Santana. 

But if MLB is going to investigate this,  how would they even start?

If Peavy gets shelled in his next two starts, then I will be suspicious.  It's the same as some power numbers dropping so rapidly for certain players.  If Peavy is indeed "cheating", and he stops now, it will be pretty obvious.

I don't think Peavy is cheating at all.  I would need a lot more evidence and a lot more convincing.  If we were talking about Kyle Farnsworth, who stinks it up every night in the Bronx, I would probably believe it, seeing how he hasn't shown a good performance in quite some time. 

But we are talking about one of the best, if not the best pitcher in the game, Jake Peavy.  He was tied with Chien-Ming Wang last season for the Major League lead in wins with 19.  

So who is pitching for the Padres this season, the next Nolan Ryan or the next Gaylord Perry?  You decide. 

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