Mets Have Doctor K, but Astros May Have a Couple of Doctors of Their Own

A scuff or two has provided the New York Mets and the Houston Astros with the stuff of controversy entering their National League playoff series.

The Mets believe that Nolan Ryan, besides Mike Scott, is doctoring the baseball.

Ryan responded the other day by telling Times staff writer Gordon Edes: “Sounds like they’re making alibis already. Good. I hope they stay real concerned about those things. That will take the attention away from their hitting.

“I guess they’re grooving their bats or corking them. If I’m scuffing the ball, they’re doing that. After we beat them, they’ll have something to bitch about all winter.”

A number of teams have accused Scott of illegal practices, but it has only been since the Cincinnati Reds complained recently that Ryan has been suspected of it.

The Mets endorsed that view in comments to Houston Post columnist Ken Hand.

“Same spot, same nicks,” Keith Hernandez said of Scott and Ryan. “I think what they do is get an emery board and use super glue to make it stick to a fingernail. I don’t know how one nick can make a ball move like that, but on Scott’s fastball, the ball runs a foot.

“Ryan has more movement on his ball, even on his changeup, than ever before. I respect Nolie. Earlier this year, I thought he had the best stuff I’ve ever seen him have.”

Said Gary Carter: “I know they both cut the ball. Mike taught (Ryan) how. Imagine that. A guy like Ryan has over 4,000 strikeouts and feels he has to cut it. I guess he’s just being experimental in his old age.”

Ryan said he has been throwing more sinkers to take the strain off his ailing elbow and teams are interpreting that pitch as a scuffed fastball.

Of the Mets, he told Edes: “I hope they’re all real preoccupied with it. It makes me think they’re a little worried. I think we got their attention right after the All-Star game (in a series) at the Dome. I don’t think they’re looking forward to coming back down here.”