New York Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith was served a 10-game suspension for MLB’s new policies addressing sticky substances. Smith was ejected as he was preparing to pitch against the Yankees in a game Tuesday night.
“They said both of my hands were too sticky,” Smith said after the game. “Really surprised, because I haven’t done anything different all year. Sweat and rosin. I don’t know what else to say. Nothing changed. It’s just, I think the process is so arbitrary. It can change from one crew to the other, and I think that’s the main issue.”
Smith became the second Mets pitcher to receive a suspension this season, as ace pitcher Max Scherzer committed the same sticky stuff violation in April. Scherzer was similarly adamant that he did not use anything illegal on the mound and complained about the inconsistency in the league’s new policies.
According to Smith, an MLB official checked his hands after the game and claimed that there were no illegal substances present. Umpire Bill Miller told a pool reporter after the game that he was not sure what was on Smith’s hands, but that it was too sticky for him to allow.
“Drew Smith was ejected because he had sticky hands,” Miller told a pool reporter. “I don’t know what’s on his hand, all I know it was sticky — sticky to the touch. It stuck to my hands when I touched it. Not only his pitching hand, but his glove hand as well.”
Smith’s ejection and suspension sparked yet another intense debate about MLB’s attempt to curb sticky substances on the mound. Many have criticized the league for forcing umpires to enforce vague rules, leading to inconsistent judgments during routine checks. Former Mets relief pitcher and SNY analyst Jerry Blevins was especially animated during post-game coverage.
“MLB didn’t treat the problem of the baseball and guys started to take advantage,” Blevins said. “Give them an inch, they take a mile. Alright. Now, it’s the spin rates that makes it an advantage for pitchers. It’s the spin rates, so now you’re treating the symptom and not the sickness. So go to the tape. You have live data that says the spin rate. It’s a simple fix. Stop being arbitrary about it.”
Unless Smith successfully appeals the ruling, the Mets will have to play 10 games without one of their key relievers. The team split its Subway Series matchups with the Yankees and will now begin a series against the Cardinals Friday.
