Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer underwent multiple checks for sticky substances during a series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies on Tuesday, leading to a tense staredown and ejection of the opposing team’s manager.
Umpires examined Scherzer for foreign substances three times during the first half of the game, including at the request of Phillies manager Joe Girardi. The pitcher looked increasingly agitated throughout the inspections.
This is actually absurd. Max Scherzer just got checked AGAIN in the middle of the inning and is about to pull his pants down to get these people to leave him alone. pic.twitter.com/v6OXMpPOBn
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) June 23, 2021
Scherzer walked off the field after ending the 5th inning with a strikeout, staring down at the Phillies dugout. Girardi then jumped out of the dugout, shouting and gesturing for him to come over. He then got ejected by umpire Tim Timmons.
Scherzer could be seen in the National dugout holding up his hat and glove in his hands.
After being checked for sticky substance 3 times tonight, Max Scherzer stared down Phillies Manager Joe Girardi while walking to the dugout. Girardi then left his dugout and had some words for Scherzer, which led to Girardi being ejected.pic.twitter.com/3laApv2YdR
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 23, 2021
Last week, Major League Baseball announced new guidance on enforcing rules that prohibit applying foreign substances to baseballs, including multiple mandatory checks for starting pitchers, including a look into the player’s hat, glove, and fingertips.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
“I understand there’s a history of foreign substances being used on the ball, but what we are seeing today is objectively far different, with much tackier substances being used more frequently than ever before. It has become clear that the use of foreign substance has generally morphed from trying to get a better grip on the ball into something else — an unfair competitive advantage that is creating a lack of action and an uneven playing field,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement.
As noted by Hannah Keyser, a reporter for Yahoo! Sports, the MLB memo includes a warning to managers who request a sticky substance check: “Please note that a manager will be subject to discipline if he makes the request in bad faith (e.g., a request intended to disrupt the pitcher in a critical game situation, a routine request that is not based on observable evidence, etc.).”
The Nationals beat the Phillies 3-2. After five innings, Scherzer had eight strikeouts, which the Nationals touted in a snarky tweet that said he was “filthy tonight. (We triple checked.)”
Max Scherzer was filthy tonight.
(We triple checked.)#Scherzday // #NATITUDE pic.twitter.com/C8jcx3BCsb
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 23, 2021
