WASHINGTON — Phillies first baseman Carlos Santana lathers his bat with so much pine tar that the shoulders of his uniform top often have a trace of brown glaze from resting his bat there while he’s at the plate.
“I love the mark on his shoulder,” manager Gabe Kapler said before Sunday night’s game against the Nationals. “I love that any time I need something sticky on my hand, I can just tap him on the shoulder.”
Most batters use the sticky substance the way Kapler does, as a way to get a better grip. But not Santana.