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.
Max Scherzer seen saying “It’s Rosin” along with the fact that the tape he used the inning before to tape the PitchCom to his hand is on his LEFT. Keep in mind this is also his second glove of the game.
Max Scherzer is 100% correct. Disgraceful. #LGM pic.twitter.com/olw3bUypY2
— Dan Bartels (@DanBartels2) April 19, 2023
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.’
"I swear on my kids' lives, I'm not using anything else. This is sweat and rosin. Sweat and rosin."
Max Scherzer on his interaction with Phil Cuzzi: pic.twitter.com/yYWZacimm1
— SNY (@SNYtv) April 19, 2023
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 .”
From Max Scherzer's agent Scott Boras: 1/"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 .
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) April 19, 2023
Scherzer might be totally innocent, but Twitter was not about to let this incident go quietly into the night.
Wonder if Mets fans are going to chant “Cheater” at Max Scherzer when he returns to Citi Field?
Seems like they were happy to chant it at Joe Musgrove even though he was never caught doing anything wrong pic.twitter.com/5O5hECZ2vx
— Devine Sports Gospel (@DevineGospel) April 19, 2023
Tossing Max Scherzer for possibly having a sticky substance after how adamant he was about not using any when the league first introduced sticky checks is quite the plot twist. pic.twitter.com/yZTCGnCJnO
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) April 19, 2023
What’s not clear about this? Doesn’t matter if it was just rosin, it’s not allowed on or in the glove pic.twitter.com/sgH4iMXeBb
— King Kai Appreciator 🔴⚪️ (@ChopCityJason) April 19, 2023
Max Scherzer in the locker room pic.twitter.com/NZG8gzJBUi
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) April 19, 2023
Domingo German sticky hands vs Max Scherzer sticky glove pic.twitter.com/l4NthrTc2c
— Nae 🧬 (@NaeNaeTakes) April 19, 2023
When I asked an AI bot for an image of "Mets Max Scherzer found with foreign substance by umpires," this is the image it produces. pic.twitter.com/xuPXOmx0D4
— Mark Gooden (@TooGooden17) April 19, 2023
[Talkin Baseball; Photo credit: SNY]
