Rockies closer Manny Corpas denied any wrongdoing the day after the Phillies implied he doctored the ball before his save in NLDS game one.
The Phillies filed a formal complaint before today’s game, according to Rockies pitching coach Bob Apodaca.
“I didn’t do anything wrong, it was just water I threw on my jersey,” Corpas said. “It’s something I’ve done before in Arizona and in Denver when I get really hot.”
Added Apodaca, “It’s a dead issue as far as I’m concerned. Unless there’s something in the chemicals of water I don’t know about I don’t even understand why this is a story.”
A TBS camera in the Rockies bullpen showed Corpas pouring liquid on his jersey and the TBS commentators said he rubbed dirt on the area after.
Pitchers will sometimes try that to improve their grip, but a foreign substance is not allowed on the baseball. Corpas said he was surprised that people were questioning him last night on television and believes it’s just the Phillies trying to play head games. “No no no, that’s not going to work with me. I hear them saying it was red bull, it was water, that’s all it was,” said Corpas, shaking his finger.
If he goes into the game today Corpas said he will change his routine. “I will just take a drink of water and go.”
Asked about it today, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel did not make a big deal about it.
