Desperate times call for desperate measures. Trailing 4-0 to the San Diego Padres in the winner-take-all Game 3 of the National League Wild Card playoff series, the situation was desperate for the New York Mets. With that, their manager, Buck Showalter, took drastic action regarding San Diego pitcher, Joe Musgrove.
Before New York third baseman Eduardo Escobar came up to lead the bottom of the sixth inning off, Showalter walked out onto the field and requested that the umpires check Musgrove for illegal foreign substances. The umpires honored the request but found nothing.
Mets manager Buck Showalter asked the umpires to check Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove for foreign substances after it appeared Musgrove's ears were shiny. pic.twitter.com/U6alihJnfD
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 10, 2022
The decision didn’t work for Showalter or the Mets. While it got the crowd into the game, Musgrove was unbothered — at least judging by his performance in the sixth inning. He retired the Mets in order, getting Escobar, Tomás Nido and Brandon Nimmo on a groundout, strikeout and flyout, respectively.
After the strikeout of Nido, Musgrove did make a defiant gesture towards New York’s dugout.
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 10, 2022
The reaction to Showalter’s action was mixed.
Musgrove has been untouchable. In my eyes, he’s been cleared 100%. It isn’t bush league to check him. It’s not unprecedented that pitchers cheat. His ears were talking points everywhere but the broadcast. And David Cone in the broadcast talked about all his spinrates being up.
— Jerry Blevins (@jerryblevins) October 10, 2022
Buck Showalter should be ashamed.
— Ben Higgins (@BenHigginsSD) October 10, 2022
Reeks of desperation.
Can't say I blame Buck Showalter. But reeeeeeks of desperation.— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) October 10, 2022
Here is why Buck Showalter asked the Blue Crew to check Joe Musgrove. As Ravech/Perez/Cone discussed, the numbers are consistent with recent readings, after Musgrove made an adjustment.
Slider rpm, Curve rpm, Four Seam rpm, Four Seam mph pic.twitter.com/dynWub8KZc
— Todd Zola (@ToddZola) October 10, 2022
Buck Showalter‘s. That’s BS what you just did. #padres #Mets
— Heath Bell (@HeathBell21) October 10, 2022
Hail Mary from Showalter to disrupt Musgrove. He’s a fun one
— Andy Martino (@martinonyc) October 10, 2022
Here we go. I guarantee Musgrove has Red Hot on his ears. Pitchers use it as mechanism to stay locked in during games. It burns like crazy and IDK why some guys thinks it helps them but in no way is it “sticky.” Buck is smart tho. Could be trying to just throw him off.
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) October 10, 2022
Musgrove was not only shutting the Mets out through the first five innings but had surrendered only one hit. Still, New York’s hitters were actually making contact with his pitches. The sixth-inning strikeout of Nido was only Musgrove’s fifth of the game, a relatively modest total considering he’s had more strikeouts than innings pitched in each of the last three seasons.
[Jomboy Media on Twitter]
