SAN FRANCISCO — Max Scherzer was just trying to get a grip.
Scherzer’s decision to accept the 10-game suspension that came from his ejection in Los Angeles doesn’t mean he’s admitting to guilt. Scherzer has vehemently denied any wrongdoing and is extremely frustrated that he is being suspended 10 games for using too much rosin during the Mets’ series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. Accepting the suspension is simply what’s best for the Mets.
“I’m going to follow what the Mets want me to do and that’s accept the suspension and come to a settlement with them,” Scherzer said Thursday at Oracle Park in San Francisco. “I came to a settlement with MLB on what the fine should be and I move forward.”
The amount of rosin Scherzer used was deemed excessive, and a statement released by MLB seemed to dispute Scherzer’s notion that he only used rosin. It’s all a mess that Scherzer and the Mets are ready to move on from.
“Based on the umpires’ training to detect rosin on a pitcher’s hands, they concluded that the level of stickiness during the fourth inning check was so extreme that it was inconsistent with the use of rosin and/or sweat alone,” the statement said. “Both umpires reported difficulty removing the substance from their own hands for multiple innings afterward. Consistent with the Official Baseball Rules, the umpires then appropriately ejected Mr. Scherzer from the game.”
Scherzer has served on MLB’s rules committee and has talked about wanting to rid the game of sticky substances like SpiderTac and pine tar. Rosin is legal, though the league has said that the use of it in certain circumstances can be illegal. The frustration stems from subjectivity.
How can the league even determine how much rosin is too much rosin?
If the league can’t determine it, how can the pitchers understand when they’ve crossed a line?
“When you apply the rosin, there isn’t a test where you can say, ‘Oh, I’m at seven units,’ or ‘Oh, I’m at 10 units,’ ” Scherzer said. “You don’t know exactly how sticky it’s going to get when you hit the sweat. It’s an inexact science. They deemed I used too much, but how am I supposed to know? Where is that line?”
The other problem is that rosin reacts differently in different climates and it changes with the weather. MLB could avoid this problem in the future if it goes to a tackier ball like the one used in Japan, but it continues to be an issue in North America with the way smoother balls are manufactured.
“What you do in Miami is different than what you do on a cold day in New York and is different than what happens on a day in L.A.,” Scherzer said. “It gets sticky in inconsistent ways. That’s one of the reasons why MLB is exploring using a sticky ball — to try and even the playing fields between the cities. That’s one of the issues with rosin.”
Scherzer would like the league to use data from spin rates and velocity. When spin rates spike — and his did not — it sends up a red flag and the umpires can then be told to check players for substances.
Scherzer is hoping that “cooler heads prevail” and the system of randomized checks will be amended. Otherwise, these problems may continue to arise.
“There’s no uniform stickiness,” Scherzer said. “The umpires are given classes on what they’re looking for and this and that, whereas MLB says here’s your rosin bag, use sweat. Don’t use pine tar, don’t use sunscreen, use sweat. So that’s what we do.”
The Mets are not concerned that this will affect Scherzer’s legacy. Scherzer himself, having played for the team he was accused of cheating against, has heard from enough players who know his character and respect his competitive integrity that it’s not a concern for him either.
“I’ve faced the Dodgers, I know those guys and they know me,” he said. “I’ve got my reputation in the game and the players understand.”
Scherzer was fired up enough after the initial ejection that called it a “legal matter” and his agent, Scott Boras, went on TV and ripped the league Friday before the suspension was handed down. There was considerable anger and Scherzer was eager to appeal.
But an appeal might only delay the inevitable. By Scherzer accepting this suspension now, he can return in time to face the Atlanta Braves, an important divisional matchup.
On a day when his character was questioned, he wanted to make it clear that his priority is the betterment of the team.
“He’s a very competitive guy but he always wants to do what’s best for the team and that’s always been a common thread with him,” manager Buck Showalter said. “He’s always about the team and what’s best for them.”
