New York Mets ace Max Scherzer has been handed a 10-game suspension for “violating foreign substance bans.”
Scherzer was ejected from Wednesday’s game for having a sticky substance on his hand, which he says was just a combination of sweat and rosin – the two together create an extra sticky sensation.
Rosin is, of course, legal, and sweat is pretty much unavoidable when you’re playing in Los Angeles, which is where the Mets’ road game was played on Wednesday. However, MLB says rosin could be misusedwhich could then lead to a punishment.
Scherzer was subjected to a substance check between innings. The referees took a close look at the fingers of the three-time Cy Young Award winner. After a lively conversation, the referees determined throw scherzer and take his glove.
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New York Mets starting pitcher Max Scherzer (21) and manager Buck Showalter dispute a call from umpire Phil Cuzzi, center, and umpire Dan Bellino, right, after they found a problem with Scherzer’s glove during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles. , Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Scherzer said “I swear on the lives of my children” that he was only using rosin mixed with sweat, a legal combination, albeit up to a point.
“After the second inning, my hand was a little lumpy from the rosin. That’s why it was lumpy. Phil [Cuzzi] He told me to wash it off. So, I washed it. I went back out after the third, washed it down with alcohol, and when I came back, the alcohol can be a little sticky on the rosin. That can happen. So, he says, ‘That’s too sticky, you need to go back in there and wash it again and reapply the rosin.'”
“And so I did that, and at the same time, he thought my glove had too much rosin on it. And I was like, ‘OK, if that’s a problem, it’s okay.’ He says, ‘You need a new glove.’ Okay, I went back out there, shot the third and I knew I was going to be checked in the fourth, so I would have to be an absolute idiot to try and do something when I come back in the fourth.”
“After that third inning, I’m in front of the MLB official below here. I wash my hand with alcohol in front of the official. Then I apply rosin and then I sweat. When I come back out, and Phil Cuzzi says my hand is too sticky yes when you wear sweat and rosin your hand is sticky but i don’t understand how i get kicked out when i’m in front of a MLB official doing exactly what you want and being considerate my hand is too sticky when i’m wearing [a] legal substance. I do not understand that.”
Max Scherzer #21 of the New York Mets reacts after an ejection by umpire Phil Cuzzi #10 during the third inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on April 19, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
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scherzer too was fined $10,000.
The Mets could maneuver the rotation where he only needs to miss one start, but Scherzer will appeal the suspension and expect to lose zero time.
Referee Dan Bellino said Scherzer’s hand “was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers would stick to his hand. And whatever was on it stayed on our fingers after a couple of innings,” he said.
MLB said the referees ruled that Scherzer’s hand was so sticky as to be “inconsistent with the use of rosin and/or sweat alone”.
Los Angeles, CA – April 19: Mets starter Max Scherzer (21) reacts after being ejected in the fourth inning of a game against the Dodgers on Wednesday, April 19, 2023. (Luis Sinco/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Only three pitchers have been ejected for sticky stuff since the crackdown began in June 2021; all of them were thrown out by Cuzzi. Bellino also had a viral moment where he was giving Madison Bumgarner an extended physical and kicked him out after Bumgarner shared her displeasure with Bellino.
If the suspension is upheld, Scherzer will miss his next scheduled start against the Washington Nationals and will likely return against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field.
Fox News’ Joe Morgan contributed to this report.
