Why was Clarke Schmidt not ejected? Yankees pitcher avoids dismissal after lengthy substance check

In Friday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt narrowly avoided ejection after a lengthy substance check. The incident ocurred before Schmidt took the mound for the bottom of the fifth inning. Third-base umpire Nestor Ceja noticed something on the back of Schmidt’s left hand and brought it to the attention of the umpiring crew.

Schmidt was asked to wash off the foreign substance before being allowed to continue pitching.

Upon inspection, it was determined that the issue was the black fur from the inside of Clarke Schmidt’s glove, which has mixed sweat and rosin, creating a buildup on the back of his left wrist. Crew chief Brian O’Nora clarified that the residue was not sticky, unlike illegial substances like pine tar. As a result, the umpire asked Schmidt to wash it off, which he did, and was allowed to continue pitching.

Reds manager David Bell was unhappy with the decision and was subsequently ejected for arguing with the umpires. He believed that Clarke Schmidt should have been thrown out of the game, similar to what happened to his teammate Domingo German a few days earlier.

The incident raised concerns for the Yankees who had already experienced an ejection and suspension due to a sticky substance violation. Manager Aaron Boone emphasized the need to avoid such situations and maintain accountability within the team.

How did Clarke Schmidt perform against the Cincinnati Reds?

Clarke Schmidt, after being cleared, pitched a scoreless fifth inning before being taken out in the sixth after giving up back-to-back hits. Despite the controversy sorrounding the substance check, it was one of Schmidt’s better starts of the season.

It was one of Clarke Schmidt’s best starts this season.

The incident with Schmidt brings to mind similar situations involving other pitchers, such as Max Scherzer and German, who were ejected for violating the foreign substance rule. The rule states that pitchers cannot have foreign substances on their hands while pitching, with a penalty of automatic ejection. However, umpires have some discretion in deciding whether to issue a warning or enforce the penalty.

In Schmidt's case, the umpires determined that the residue on his wrist was not a foreign substance, and therefore, he was allowed to continue pitching. While Bell and some players disagreed with the decision, the umpires' ruling stood.

The incident highlights the need for clarity from the league regarding substance checks and the enforcement of penalties. The heightened sensitivity around foreign substances in baseball has led to increased scrutiny, with umpires conducting more extensive searches.