Max Scherzer Suspended 10 Games After Sticky Stuff Ejection

UPDATE 3: Sure enough, Max Scherzer has been suspended under the rules prohibiting the use of foreign substances. You can bet he’s going to appeal.

As you may recall, Scherzer cannot be replaced on the 26-man roster while suspended, so if he loses the appeal, the Mets will have to play 10 days shorthanded. All for rosin. Or maybe more, if you ask MLB …

*original post and updates follow*

Oh my. This is a big one. It’s going to get a lot of folks really angry, and a lot of others eating a lot of popcorn.

New York Mets ace Max Scherzer was just ejected from the game following an inspection for sticky stuff. He was NOT happy about it:

Although it’s been a long time since we’ve seen a sticky stuff ejection, the subject came under renewed scrutiny this spring with data last year suggesting usage was on the rise again. The ejection is supposed to be accompanied by a ten-game suspension, where the team cannot replace the player on the roster.

The previous inning, Scherzer had his glove thoroughly checked during a sticky stuff inspection, and then apparently had to change gloves, which is really weird:

That part was reminiscent of a recent issue involving Yankees starter Domingo German, where he was found to have hands that were too sticky from – allegedly – using rosin between innings. That’s not illegal, but he was instructed to wash his hands. I expect Scherzer is going to say the same thing was happening here, that it was just rosin.

I expect we’ll be hearing a LOT more about this one very soon.

UPDATE: Sure enough, Scherzer says it was nothing but rosin:

The umpires, of course, had a different perspective:

Honestly, I tend to believe them both! I believe that Scherzer was only using rosin and sweat, but I also believe he/the Mets had figured out a way to make that as sticky as possible. The problem, of course, is that rosin is legal. We’ll see what the league has to say about this one.

UPDATE 2:

  • More on the Max Scherzer ejection yesterday following an inspection for sticky stuff. As Scherzer explains it, he was using rosin and sweat to get his hand how he wanted it, was warned that it was too much/too sticky/kind of clumping, washed his hands (in front of an MLB official), did it again, and that time he got ejected:
  • Despite that explanation, and Scherzer’s emphatic statement that he wasn’t using anything illegal, the umpires just weren’t buying it:
  • That is about as firm as a rebuke can get. The umpires concluded that Scherzer HAD to have been using an illegal substance, and thus the ejection and the possible ten-game suspension forthcoming (officially, MLB has to review the reports and make a decision).
  • Is it possible they’re both right? Like, is it possible that Scherzer and the Mets have figured out a way to use rosin (legal) and sweat (legal) to make the hand extremely sticky? Could that explain why he – and Domingo German – was rosin’ing up in between innings, rather than on the mound like most pitchers? Maybe there’s a technique that you need to do off the field to get it just right. (And that assumes there isn’t something else at play, like sunscreen – it’s long been known that combining rosin with sunscreen can create “sticky stuff,” and that’s definitely barred.)
  • If so, Scherzer and the Mets could argue they aren’t breaking any rules, though they would obviously be outside the spirit of the ban on foreign substances. Also, there are prohibitions against using rosin in a way to circumvent the sticky stuff rules, so maybe this would fall under that? If rosin – which has a little tack to it, but is legal – can be used in this way to “manufacture” sticky stuff in between innings, is that going to be a serious problem league-wide? Is this just the start of another annoyingly gray area? Are a whole lot of pitchers and teams doing this, but now it’s just on the radar?
  • written by

    Brett Taylor is the Lead Cubs Writer at Bleacher Nation, and you can find him on Twitter at @BleacherNation and on LinkedIn here. Brett is also the founder of Bleacher Nation, which opened up shop in 2008 as an independent blog about the Chicago Cubs. Later growing to incorporate coverage of other Chicago sports, Bleacher Nation is now one of the largest regional sports blogs on the web.

    more cubs news

    The Cubs Are Among the Most Returning-y Teams

    I am still mostly incapacitated at the moment, so apologies for the short shrift on such an otherwise blessed day. In between pokes and prods, I wanted to share a chart I saw that was pretty interesting, even if unsurprising:...

    Maybe the Cubs Are the Favorites in the NL Central, After All?

    ESPN was the first to throw some love the Cubs way this week, with an overwhelming majority of their writers, analysts, and editors picking the Chicago Cubs to win the NL Central in 2024. But the love doesn't end there....

    The Season Begins, Love for Morel, Counsell’s Value, and Other Cubs Bullets

    You know where you want to spend your Opening Day morning? The hospital! Suffice to say, this is not how I imagined getting HYPED for the Cubs' opener. I guess I'll just have to think about all the possible lineup...

    Cubs vs Rangers: The First Series of the Year!

    Cubs vs Rangers — THE REGULAR SEASON IS HERE! Wake up and rejoice. Later tonight, the Cubs will begin their march toward October Baseball against the (reigning World Series champion) Texas Rangers in Arlington. Justin Steele is getting the nod...

    The 2024 Chicago Cubs for Dummies

    Boom. We made it. The offseason is over, and the Cubs regular season - and those elevated expectations - begins tomorrow. But in case you slept through the winter, I'm here to catch you up on everything you need to...

    I’m Expecting More This Year, Cubs — It’s Time to Start Winning

    There's no way around it: The Chicago Cubs did *not* have the offseason we hoped they might after making Craig Counsell the highest paid manager in MLB history. Not that they did poorly, mind you. Cody Bellinger, Shota Imanaga, and...

    I Dug Deep on the Cubs 2024 Schedule (And I Like What I See)

    Finally, with Cody Bellinger in the fold, we can start focusing more seriously on the season ahead. So today, I thought we'd take a look at the Cubs 2024 schedule. You can flip through the Cubs 2024 schedule right here...

    Here’s What I’m Betting on the Cubs for Opening Day

    I get it. Sports betting isn't for everyone — like, say, the interpreter for an international baseball superstar — but some of us quite enjoy it! If you are one of those people, this article is for you. Below, I'm...

    WAKE UP, BASEBALL IS BACK

    The day has arrived. Opening Day. The most glorious day on the baseball calendar, save for the day of each Chicago Cubs World Series win, of course. See, I get to say things like that on Opening Day. Maybe the...

    Wrigley Field is Gonna Be Lit This Year (As in New Colored Lights!)

    Last year, the Cubs started using their new LED outfield lights to do a little dancing display during 'Go Cubs Go,' lighting along with the song and throwing in a W. It was very fun and I liked it. This...

    Latest News

    Braves vs. Phillies: Start Time, Streaming Live, TV Channel, How to Watch

    Spencer Strider will take the ball for the Atlanta Braves when they take on starter Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies in their season opener on Friday, with first pitch at 3:05 PM ET.If you're trying to watch this game,...

    Jonas Valančiūnas Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Bucks – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The New Orleans Pelicans face the Milwaukee Bucks at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer props available for this matchup requires only one trifecta from Jonas Valančiūnas.Jonas Valančiūnas' Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the BucksJonas Valanciunas' over/under...

    Top 25 College Basketball Picks and Best Bets: March 28

    The Illinois Fighting Illini and the Iowa State Cyclones hit the court in one of four games on the college basketball slate on Thursday that include a ranked team.How to Bet on Top 25 Games[lasso rel="draftkings-promo-1" id="299003"]Top 25 Games for...

    What Does a Chicago Bears NFL Draft Trade Down Look Like?

    You'd think we'd be well-versed in trade-back options after months of wondering what kind of haul it would take for the Bears to move off taking quarterback Caleb Williams with the first pick of the 2024 NFL Draft. But trading...

    Diamondbacks vs. Rockies Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Arizona Diamondbacks begin their season as -226 favorites in a home tilt against the Colorado Rockies on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on ARID.Arizona's Zac Gallen gets the start, and he'll go against Colorado's Kyle Freeland.Diamondbacks vs. Rockies...

    Mariners vs. Red Sox Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Seattle Mariners begin their season as -155 favorites in a home tilt against the Boston Red Sox on Thursday at 10:10 PM ET, live on NESN.Luis Castillo takes the mound for Seattle while Brayan Bello is Boston's starter for...

    Guardians vs. Athletics Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Cleveland Guardians start their season as road favorites (-156) in a matchup with the Oakland Athletics on Thursday at 10:07 PM ET, live on NBCS-CA from Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum.Cleveland's Shane Bieber and Oakland's Alex Wood have been named the...

    Damian Lillard Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, and if the Bucks' Damian Lillard drains four 3-pointers, he'll beat his over/under.Damian Lillard's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansDamian Lillard's over/under for three-pointers in this...

    Brook Lopez Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    The Milwaukee Bucks face the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:00 PM ET on Thursday, and one of the 3-pointer over/unders available for this matchup requires two trifectas from Brook Lopez.Brook Lopez's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansBrook Lopez's over/under for...

    Giannis Antetokounmpo Player Props: Three-Pointer Props and Odds vs. the Pelicans – Thursday, March 28, 2024

    On Thursday at 8:00 PM ET, the Milwaukee Bucks meet the New Orleans Pelicans, and Giannis Antetokounmpo's 3-pointer prop for this clash requires just one trey.Giannis Antetokounmpo's Three-Pointer Prop Odds vs. the PelicansGiannis Antetokounmpo's over/under for three-pointers in this game:...

    more cubs news