Roger Arrieta
We are only a couple of days into MLB’s new “crackdown on sticky stuff” on pitchers and we have already seen a pair of “sticky situations” with a few epic reactions from pitchers around the league (note: Trevor Bauer is on the mound Wednesday so you know that’ll be “Must See TV”).
Two pitchers made headlines on Tuesday as umpires conducted the newly implemented “sticky stuff screening” on them (Max Scherzer and Sergio Romo) and both men had very similar reactions.
Let’s start with Former Dodger pitcher Sergio Romo (now with the Oakland A’s) who clearly is not a fan of the screening. While walking off the field on Tuesday Sergio was approached by the umpire to screen him and he was clearly not happy and started to unbuckle his pants! If you missed the hilarious reaction you can watch it now below:
Max Scherzer had a similar reaction when he was checked for a 3rd time Tuesday vs the Philadelphia Phillies, Jomboy Media has a hilarious play by play of the whole thing and you can see Scherzer’s reaction below:
Kershaw was asked what his thoughts were on the “sticky stuff screening”:
They (umpires) are just doing their job, they are told what to do. I think it’s a little weird and I think it’s kind of a funny look in general but I guess that’s what they want so we’ll do it. I will say this, you know how Girardi checked Scherzer or called him out. I think there should be a punishment if they don’t catch anything on the guy because I think that Scherzer, he’s one of the best pitchers of our generation and to see him get checked… you better find something if you’re going to call him our like that so maybe there should be like a punishment if a manager checks a guy and there isn’t anything or something like that but other then that it is what it is it’s whatever.
Kershaw was also asked if he thinks this new screening would be something managers would use to disrupt a pitcher’s rhythm?
It’s a good technique, I think if you got a guy get going in rhythm or something and maybe you have a guy on base, have them check you it throws you off it’s something that you’re not used to so maybe they lose a challenge or maybe if they have a challenge that can’t do it I don’t know but I think there should be some repercussions for manager just doing that on a whim like that because if you call somebody out, I mean anybody, but especially of Max Scherzer caliber and you don’t find anything I think that looks pretty bad on his part the manager’s part.
It’s only the beginning with this “sticky” mess but one thing seems to be something to consider… start bringing those $1 dollar bills to the ball game because you just don’t know who else will be unbuckling their pants!
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