A foreign substance check midway through Friday’s Yankees-Reds game led to an ejection for Reds manager David Bell after he fiercely protested the umpiring crew’s handling of the situation.
With the Yankees leading 1–0 heading into the bottom of the fifth inning, starting pitcher Clarke Schmidt briefly exited the game after meeting with all four umpires on his trot to the mound. Schmidt’s glove and right hand were thoroughly examined before he was instructed to head to the visitor’s dugout to wash his hands.
During the break, Bell and Yankees manager Aaron Boone walked out to speak with the umpires in search of an explanation. Schmidt, who pitched four scoreless innings prior to the check, eventually emerged from the dugout and underwent another quick check by home-plate umpire Brian O’Nora before being cleared to return.
Moments after Schmidt’s return, however, Bell walked back onto the field and engaged in a heated discussion with O’Nora on the decision to allow the pitcher to keep playing. The exchange soon led to O’Nora tossing Bell from the game, leading to more dialogue between the two before the Cincy manager walked off.
The umpires just made Clarke Schmidt wash his hands because they were too sticky pic.twitter.com/qlLHzLaIKr
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 19, 2023
After disputing the umpires' decision to allow Clarke Schmidt to remain in the game, David Bell gets tossed. pic.twitter.com/VwdY1ZHJQT
— Bally Sports Cincinnati (@BallySportsCIN) May 19, 2023
Reds bench coach Freddie Benavides replaced Bell for the remainder of the contest.
Friday’s bizarre scene added another entry to MLB’s influx of “sticky stuff” inspections this season.
The Yankees were recently at the center of controversy after losing starting pitcher starting pitcher Domingo German to a 10-game suspension after he was found to have used an illegal foreign substance. German’s discipline came nearly a month after MLB handed down another high-profile 10-game suspension to Mets ace Max Scherzer.
