![]() ![]() ![]() Scherzer now faces an automatic 10-game suspension, but the ban can be appealed. “Compared to the first inning, the level of stickiness, it was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers were sticking to his hand.” Speaking to a pool reporter, Bellino touched on why the officials ejected Scherzer, saying: “As far as stickiness, level of stickiness, this was the stickiest that it has been since I’ve been inspecting hands, which now goes back three seasons. I literally go out there with sweat and rosin, I get ejected.” “I’d have to be an absolute idiot to use anything else. “I swear on my kids’ lives, I’m not using anything else,” the veteran explained. Scherzer was evidently displeased with the ejection and defended himself post-game. Up to this point, the three-time Cy Young Award winner pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out three and walking two prior to the ejection. Scherzer argued with umpire Phil Cuzzi about the substance. Scherzers penalty had been due to end Sunday, and he was scheduled to start the series finale Monday against Atlanta. It is made from the sap of fir trees and pitchers use its powder form in a white bag to help maintain grip on the ball and limit the amount of sweat on their hand.Ĭuzzi disagreed with Scherzer’s claims of rosin usage and ejected him from the game. Rosin is the only sticky substance allowed in the MLB. It was after this final check that the pitcher and umpire began arguing about the substance, with Scherzer appearing to yell “it is just rosin” when surrounded by officials and Mets manager Showalter. However, the eight-time All-Star was still not off the hook and Scherzer was checked once again when he came back to pitch in the bottom of the fourth. Cuzzi told Scherzer to go and get another glove and wipe off his hands once more. MLB home-plate umpire Dan Bellino conducted a routine check of Scherzer’s hands and glove after the second inning and crew chief Phil Cuzzi concluded that the 38-year-old’s hand was too sticky.Īfter this exchange, “Mad Max” was instructed to go and wash his hand in front of an MLB official before returning to the mound.Ĭuzzi then stopped the Mets star again when Scherzer came back to pitch in the bottom of the third and the umpire took his glove, giving it to Mets manager Buck Showalter. Scherzer sports a 5.56 ERA in five starts this season.New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was ejected against the Los Angeles Dodgers before the bottom of the fourth inning after umpires inspected his hands and gloves for use of an illegal substance, ruling that the ace’s hand was too sticky. His effectiveness and ability to not aggravate the injury are in question, though. I've learned from that and I'm trying like hell to not have that happen." Scherzer will start Tuesday in Cincinnati and will continue to take the ball for the Mets as long as he's able. He may wish he could have avoided the mound a little longer. "That's how bad this can get,'' Scherzer said. Three rainouts in four days pushed Max Scherzer's return from his 10-game foreign substance suspension back to Wednesday night. Scherzer dealt with a similar but more serious injury in 2019 with the Nationals when he was sidelined for several weeks. New York recalled José Butto from Triple-A Syracuse to start in Scherzer’s spot Tuesday night. Seattle’s Héctor Santiago was penalized that June 28 and Arizona’s Caleb Smith that Aug. He's still dealing with soreness, though, and attributed the drop in velocity in his last start - when he allowed six runs over 3.1 innings - to managing the injury so it didn't get worse. Scherzer became the third pitcher suspended since baseball’s crackdown on sticky substances started in June 2021. Scherzer first injured his shoulder last month and had a start pushed back, although he never went on the injured list. Scherzer has admitted that he's still pitching with discomfort below his right scapula, Dan Martin and Mike Puma of the New York Post report. ![]()
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