MLB Handed 10 Games Suspension on Pitcher Max Scherzer Glueyness Hands

Following his ejection from Wednesday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers due to the usage of a chemical that an umpire considered unlawful, the league stated Thursday that the New York Mets ace would indeed face an automatic 10-game ban, in addition to an undisclosed punishment.

That is very hard but, Max Scherzer swore on the life of his children that he was not taking an illicit drug, but MLB didn’t believe him.

When Scherzer learned that his appeal wouldn’t be considered by a neutral arbiter, he told reporters late Thursday that he was withdrawing it.

His ban began with that day’s matchup against the Giants, and he may play again on May 1 against the Braves.

Since MLB began its war on banned drugs, Scherzer is the third pitcher to earn a 10-game suspension. Hector Santiago and Caleb Smith are the others.

Umpire Phil Cuzzi tossed Scherzer out of the game before the fourth inning because his hand was “slightly sticky.” Cuzzi stated Scherzer’s glove was still too sticky before the third inning, and Scherzer offered to wash his hand.

Scherzer was dismissed after the umpires discovered his hand to be sticky again when he came out for the fourth inning, despite having already changed gloves.

After the game, Scherzer strongly denied to the umpires and the press that he had used any performance-enhancing drugs.

The seasoned pitcher insisted again and over that he was merely using rosin, the only material sanctioned by MLB for use in improving a pitcher’s grip.

However, rosin is known to become exceptionally sticky when combined with perspiration or sunscreen.

Crew chief Dan Bellino disputed to a pool reporter that it was only rosin, adding that Scherzer’s hand “was so sticky that when touched his hand, our fingers were sticking to his hand.”

Max Scherzer (21), starting pitcher for the New York Mets on April 19, 2023 against the Los Angeles Dodgers, gets his glove checked by umpires Phil Cuzzi (left) and Dan Bellino (right) during the third inning.

The MLB has handed Max Scherzer a 10-game suspension.

Scherzer didn’t need anything other than rosin to deviate from the norm.
For the benefit of his children, we will assume Scherzer’s word that he used just rosin, but that doesn’t prove he was completely above board.

It is against the rules to use rosin on your glove in Major League Baseball.

If the ball touches the rosin bag at any moment during play, it is in play per Rule 6.02(d). If it seems like it could rain or the field is damp, the umpire may tell the pitcher to remain the rosin bag in his hip pocket.

Pitchers might use the rosin bag to lubricate their hands with rosin before throwing. No player, including the pitcher, may use the rosin bag to dust the ball, and no player may use rosin from the bag to dust his glove or any other part of his clothing.

In addition, on March 16 the league sent a note advising clubs against using such rosin:

Players’ rosin use must always conform to the standards set out in the Official Baseball Rules, so please keep that in mind.

The umpires have the authority to rule that rosin is a banned substance if it is used in excess or if it is applied improperly (such as to the gloves or other areas of the outfit). Please refer to OBR 3.01 and 6.02(d).

Rosin may not be mixed with other chemicals (such as sunscreen) on purpose to increase its tacky qualities, and players are prohibited from doing so.

Since using rosin as a defence doesn’t always indicate a player didn’t breach the rules, Scherzer probably didn’t have much of a say in the matter.

The spin rate of Scherzer’s fastballs was somewhat higher in the second inning, when his hand was deemed “slightly sticky.”

This is not entirely Scherzer’s fault, though; since the league began cracking down, there has been inconsistency in how the regulations regarding banned substances are enforced.

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