New York Mets ace Max Scherzer’s misfortune sparked some great debate, memes and reactions on Twitter.
Scherzer was ejected in the fourth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday for having an illegal foreign substance on his glove.
After getting flagged for the illegal substance, Scherzer became very animated pleading his case that the substance was rosin.
Mets’ manager Buck Showalter echoed Scherzer’s point after the game, saying he had rosin on his glove. Scherzer had complained in the second inning to umpire Phil Cuzzi that his hand felt “clumpy,” and was told to wash his hands with alcohol. He also changed gloves and was checked again after the third inning and told to rewash his hands.
Then, another check in the fourth led to the ejection.
“I’d have to be an absolute idiot to try to do anything when I’m coming back out for the fourth [inning],” Scherzer told reporters after the game (via ESPN). “… He said my hand is too sticky, and I said, ‘I swear on my kids’ life that I’m not using anything else. This is sweat and rosin, sweat and rosin.’
Scherzer faces a 10-game suspension for the violation, which he can appeal.
It’s worth noting that only three pitchers have been ejected since MLB began the foreign-substance checks in 2021. Cuzzi has been involved in all three: In addition to Scherzer, he ejected Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Caleb Smith and Seattle Mariners hurler Hector Santiago in 2021.
Including Max Scherzer today, there have been three pitchers to get ejected for foreign substances since the checks were instituted
Phil Cuzzi was the umpire for all three
(via @BaseballDoesnt) pic.twitter.com/bw9nU3OB2i
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) April 19, 2023
Scherzer’s agent, Scott Boras, protested the ejection, noting (via Joel Sherman) “MLB standards and rules enforcement should mandate and require an objective verifiable standard. If you want to attack the integrity of the competition you need clear precise standards else you damage the game and it players .”
Scherzer might be totally innocent, but Twitter was not about to let this incident go quietly into the night.
[Talkin Baseball; Photo credit: SNY]
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.