New York Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith was ejected on Tuesday for sticky stuff but claimed that an MLB official said his hands were clean beforehand.
The New York Mets' season has not gone to plan thus far. They're under .500, their star player Pete Alonso is out for about a month due to a wrist injury, and their top pitchers of Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer aren't performing up to par. How could things get any worse?
How about another sticky stuff ejection?
On Tuesday night's game against the New York Yankees, relief pitcher Drew Smith entered the game in the top of the seventh with the Mets trailing 7-6. Before Smith could even throw a pitch, the umpiring crew met with him, checked his hands, and ejected him for sticky stuff. With that, he's facing an automatic 10-game suspension.
After the game, reporters met with Smith to discuss his ejection. Smith claimed innocence, saying that he had his hands checked before he stepped on the field. Not only that, but Smith said he forced an MLB official to check his hands in the tunnel before he entered the game. That official laughed and said that his hands were clean, per Smith.
You can watch Smith's comments in SNY's tweet below:
Drew Smith claims an MLB official laughed and said his hands were clean before ejection
"My hands weren't sticky. I had everybody check them as I was coming off the field, I don't know if that was caught on camera," said Smith. "The MLB guy in the tunnel I kind of forced him to feel my hands as I walked in. I just grabbed him…and he actually laughed and said there's nothing there, so I really don't know what else to do."
Here is what crew chief and first base umpire Bill Miller told the game's pool reporter about his check with Smith before opting to eject him.
"Drew Smith was ejected because he had sticky hands," Miller said, h/t ESPN. "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."
It's currently unknown if Smith will be appealing the automatic 10-game suspension.
This isn't the first time that the Mets were involved with a sticky substance controversy. Back in April, Max Scherzer was ejected during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scherzer had to wash his hands multiple times, but he was still ejected by crew chief Dan Bellino, who said it was "the stickiest [a hand] has been since I've been inspecting hands, which now goes back three seasons." Scherzer claimed that it was caused by rosin and sweat. Not only that, but the ace said that he washed his hands with alcohol in front of an MLB official when he was told to do so.
Scherzer didn't appeal the suspension because an MLB official would be overseeing the hearing and not a neutral arbitrator.
When it rains, it pours for the Mets. Now, they may be without one of their bullpen options for the next 10 games.
