Red Sox pitcher Brent Knackert said that his manager in Double-A Binghamton got so upset with an umpire's call one time last year that he ran out to argue the call, forgetting about the wad in his cheek. He was ejected. Guys were dipping and chewing raisins. Solomon would not reveal the number of players fined or kicked out of games. But he said that there is compliance staffer at a minor-league ballpark somewhere, every night, checking the clubhouse for tobacco.
Ballplayers spend a lot of time in the clubhouse.
Until the compliance person comes through, they think this is a safe haven for them. But when a compliance person comes there and they get whacked for it, they start to realize it. Violations are going down, Solomon said, and he credits the rule. It hasn't gotten rid of it completely. But to the extent that they are using it, they are picking their times more cautiously they aren't doing it in the open.