Joe Girardi stepped over the line which will lead to some serious repercussions.
MLB has decided to crack down on pitchers using foreign substances which has the players divided. To implement this, the umpires have been instructed to check each pitcher throughout the game. During tonight’s game against the Phillies, the umpires have done just that.
Zack Wheeler was the first to be checked and the Phillies ace laughed it off. But the future Hall of Famer, Max Scherzer did not share the sentiment.
max scherzer is pissed about getting checked for using a foreign substance pic.twitter.com/hcHa6vhVew
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) June 22, 2021
A few innings later, Scherzer was checked once again and his reaction was the same. But for the second time in a row, the Nationals ace passed the patdown.
While two times in three innings was a bit much, it still fell under MLB’s rules. But in the middle of the fourth inning, the future of the check for substances was put into question.
With no out and a runner on second, Max Scherzer struck out Alec Bohm. Philadelphia’s manager Joe Girardi immediately asked for the umps to check Scherzer for substances on the spot. The umpires obliged, to Scherzer’s ire.
The problem with this check was that it was in the middle of the inning and for no apparent reason. It seemed Girardi was attempting to stop Scherzer’s flow which is a total abuse of the rule.
From MLB's memo to teams last week:
— Hannah Keyser (@HannahRKeyser) June 23, 2021
"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.)"
Scherzer did not act in kind to the accusation and fireworks followed.
Max Scherzer just got checked again for a foreign substance in the middle of the 4th inning pic.twitter.com/2OGbi6Lh12
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) June 23, 2021
During the check, Washington’s manager Dave Martinez came out in defense of his pitcher, which led to Girardi also walking onto the field.
This was inexcusable from Girardi, especially after his comments before the game.
It is worth noting that before the game Phillies manager Joe Girardi said he would not ask an umpire to check a pitcher for gamesmanship purposes. "I’m not going to play games. That’s silly. It’s just if you see something that’s clear cut you’ll probably ask them."
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) June 23, 2021
After Scherzer finally underwent the check and the inning continued, the righty was able to escape the jam unscathed. He returned for the fifth inning and responded with a 1-2-3 inning, capped off by his eighth strikeout of the night.
When Scherzer walked off the mound, another round of fireworks ensued. Scherzer stared down the Phillies dugout as he walked to his side. Girardi didn’t take kindly to this and ran onto the field before being stopped by the umps.
Max Scherzer and Joe Girardi had a heated exchange after the 5th inning pic.twitter.com/JQIaA6ccna
— Kev (@OnePursuitTakes) June 23, 2021
The back and forth led to Girardi being ejected. In the morning, MLB will have their hands full deciding how to handle the situation. They need to make a swift decision, so a similar scenario doesn’t happen again.