Max Scherzer: New York Mets pitcher ejected from Los Angeles Dodgers game after umpire checks for sticky hands

CNN
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New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was ejected against the Los Angeles Dodgers before the end of the fourth inning after umpires examined his hands and gloves for use of an illegal substance, and determined that the Ace’s hand was too sticky.

MLB home plate umpire Dan Bellino routinely checked Scherzer’s hand and his gloves after the second inning and crew chief Phil Causey concluded that the 38-year-old’s hand was too sticky.

After this exchange, “Mad Max” was instructed to go and wash his hands in front of an MLB official before returning to the mound.

Then Cuzzi stopped the Mets star again when Scherzer came back down the third pitch and the umpire took his glove, giving it to Mets manager Buck Showalter. Cuzzi told Scherzer to go get another glove and wipe his hands again.

However, the eight-time All-Star wasn’t off the hook and Scherzer was checked again when he came back down the fourth.

After that final check, the pitcher and the umpire began arguing about the material, with Scherzer appearing to yell “It’s just rosy” when the officials and Mets manager Showalter surrounded him.

Rosin is the only adhesive allowed in the MLB. It is made from the sap of fir trees, and pitchers use its powder form in a white sack to help maintain grip on the ball and limit the amount of sweat on their hands.

Cuzzi disagreed with Scherzer’s allegations of using rosin and kicked him out of the game.

To this point, the three-time Cy Young Award winner has pitched three scoreless innings, allowing one hit, striking out three and walking two before throwing out.

Scherzer was clearly upset at being sent off and defended himself after the match.

“I swear on my children’s lives, I don’t use anything else,” the veteran explained. “This is arak and rosin. Arak and rosin.

“I must be an absolute idiot to use anything else. I literally go in there with arak and rosin, and get knocked out.”

talk to a pool reporterBellino touched on why the officials fired Scherzer, saying: “In terms of stickiness and stickiness level, it was the hardest it’s been since I’ve been checking hands, which now goes back three seasons.

“Compared to the first half, the stickiness level, it was so sticky that when we touched his hand, our fingers were sticking to his hand.”

Scherzer now faces an automatic 10-match suspension, but the ban can be appealed.