Major League Baseball has given the Colorado Rockies permission to use a humidity- and temperature-controlled room to store baseballs, a Rockies spokesman confirmed Monday.

Sandy Alderson, vice president of the commissioner's office and a member of baseball's rules committee, said the Rockies should have consulted with the league before beginning the practice, thus eliminating the shroud of secrecy.

Colorado players didn't know much about the debate, according to the Denver Post.

"It wasn't something that they needed player consent for. But I do think we should have been told something, even if it was through a memo," outfielder Todd Hollandsworth told the newspaper. "There's a trust factor involved. It would have been nice to know."

"It bugs me now because of all the questions about it. If it's legal, why is there a controversy?" pitcher Jason Jennings told the Post. "As far as players go, we weren't hiding anything. If baseball says it's OK, then those are the balls we will throw."