Max Scherzer was ejected before the fourth inning of Wednesday’s game between the New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers for what appeared to be a violation of MLB’s rules banning sticky materials.
The drama began in the top of the third inning, when Scherzer met with first-base umpire Bill Guzzi for a foreign object test. Gucci is done He ordered a change of gloves for the inningsHe did.
However, before the fourth innings, Scherzer again had his hands and gloves checked by the umpires and was dismissed after a heated argument.
Reliever Jimmy Yagaponis replaced the veteran right-hander.
If Scherzer is found to have used an illegal substance, he faces an automatic 10-game suspension. He shall have the right to appeal against such order.
According to SNY Field Correspondent Steve Kelps, Scherzer repeatedly yelled “It’s just rosin” at the umpires before being sent off. MLB offers pitchers a rosin bag as a legal option to improve pitch grip, but a combination of rosin and sunscreen or sweat has been known for years to provide a DIY sticky substance. Scherzer is It is very visible.
Scherzer finished his start with three scoreless innings, three strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed. Yagabonis allowed the game’s first run in the next inning on a David Peralta flyout, but Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo answered with a two-run homer in the fifth.
Ber Yellow colors, “Do it for Max!” asked several times from the Mets dugout as Nimmo rounded the bases. The Mets won 5-3.
Scherzer and his agent talk
As you can imagine, Scherzer had a lot to say after the game. from cut:
“He said my hand was really sticky. I said, ‘I swear on my kids’ life, I’m not using anything else. It’s sweat and rosin. Sweat and rosin.’ As I kept repeating, they touched my hand and said it was sticky, and I said, ‘Yeah, it’s sweat and rosin. And they say it’s very sticky. So they threw me out.”
Scherzer said he washed his hands of alcohol in front of an MLB official After the third inning controversyHe argued that there should be “A complete idiot“Use anything on the fourth when you know he’s going to be checked Yagabonis was promised a steak dinner For entry on short notice.
Meanwhile, Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, Joel Sherman of the New York Post issued a statement Calls for more consistent enforcement of the rules:
“MLB standards and rules should mandate and require an objectively verifiable standard for enforcement. If you want to attack the integrity of competition, you need clear and precise standards, otherwise you will damage the game and its players. Cuzzi on the field spectrum measurement is not the answer. MLB needs to build verifiable certainty of its rules. , should use available scientific methods (not subjectivity).
Zach Buchanan of the Athletics Cuzzi noted that he was responsible for all three sticky ejections since MLB instituted the crackdown.
The referee disputed Max Scherzer’s claims
Committee chairman Dan Bellino countered the criticism When Poole spoke to a reporterScherzer’s hand is the stickiest he’s ever seen umpires say:
“The stickiness in his arm was worse than it was in the initial test two innings ago… It’s the stickiest since I’ve tested hands, which goes back three seasons now.
“It was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers stuck to his hand and whatever was there was on our fingers. [for a couple of innings] It was a lot more than we’ve seen before in a pitcher in live action.”
Scherzer’s animated ejection dates back to 2021 when MLB began enforcing a ban on sticky materials with mandatory umpire testing. That day, Scherzer was tested three times in four innings, once at the request of Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi, who responded. Dramatically removing his hat and belt, he barked at Girardi.
“Lifelong social media lover. Falls down a lot. Creator. Devoted food aficionado. Explorer. Typical troublemaker.”