There was already some skepticism about the way MLB has chosen to handle its enforcement of banned foreign substance use by pitchers.
But just one day after the period in which new penalties and inspections has taken effect, things have devolved into a full-blown circus.
Just look at how Joe Girardi and Max Scherzer decided to handle this situation.
Joe Girardi was EJECTED for getting heated with Max Scherzer following an earlier banned substance check from the umpires: pic.twitter.com/0U3DjAdbP9
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 23, 2021
Obviously, this is not what the league had in mind when the new rules were written into law on this issue. And both grown adults could have chosen to conduct themselves in a different manner.
It’s hard to not see something like this and view it as a product of a flawed system. But even a dumb system can be exploited.
Besides the punishment he’s bound to receive for leaving the dugout to challenge an opposing player to a fist fight -- not a sentence you’ll read everyday -- Girardi more than likely violated another portion of MLB’s memo on these new processes. This one basically says that while managers can ask that a pitcher be checked, it cannot be part of any gamesmanship.
"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 memo reads.
So, this is the new reality. It’s obviously great theater.
Oakland A’s reliever Sergio Romo was checked for “sticky stuff” and might have upstaged Max Scherzer in the process. pic.twitter.com/wL1jqt4CgE
— Chris Halicke (@ChrisHalicke) June 23, 2021
Scherzer is a natural entertainer -- and to add another element to this story, Scherzer is on the executive subcommittee for the Player’s Union, along with Gerrit Cole, whose name has been synonymous with sticky stuff at least this season.
But it’s clearly a bad look.
Tyler Anderson, who had no problems while being the Pirates’ crash test dummy on the new enforcement procedures, took no issue with the potential for gamesmanship that this might create.
One of the things the league got right here is the timing of the checks. Anderson and JT Brubaker didn’t seem to mind the brief detour coming off the mound. Since it happens between innings, there’s nothing really holding the game up and creating any pace of play issues.
Unless …
The pitcher substances controversy isn't going away anytime soon!
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) June 23, 2021
Joe Girardi asked the umpires to inspect Max Scherzer in the middle of the fourth inning and the Nats were NOT happy. pic.twitter.com/M1B5OsM2of
“If a manager comes out, I think that's the one that ruffled some feathers tonight, was managers calling somebody out,” Anderson said after his start Tuesday. “I think if that's the case, you want to do it, whatever. But I'm sure our manager can do the same thing right back to that guy or whatever. All you're doing is slowing the game down and the umpire is already checking."
There are certainly many ways to express displeasure. And there will probably be another league memo with guidelines on how to properly pull a Steve Lyons on the field.
At this point, the only thing that’s certain is this issue was not immediately put to rest.
YOUR TURN: How do you feel about the way Scherzer and Girardi handled this situation? Do you have an opinion on managers taking advantage of these rules for gamesmanship purposes?
