Second, if MLB expected a smooth integration of its newest guidelines into the flow of its games, that appears to be unlikely.
Scherzer was inspected three times for the use of foreign substances on the baseball during his five-inning outing against Philadelphia.
The trouble arrived in the fourth inning and was presaged by a high-and-tight Scherzer fastball that sent Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm diving into the dirt.
So the only part that was sweaty on me was actually my hair, so I had to take off my hat to get any kind of moisture on my hand, to try and mix with the rosin.
Girardi became animated, pointed toward Scherzer, spurring the umpires, led by home plate arbiter Tim Timmons, to confer on the field.
I’ve never seen him wipe his head like he was doing tonight, ever.
Scherzer responded by tossing his cap and glove onto the ground, then started to unbuckle his belt, as if to say, “Look at whatever you want.” The umpires poked around as Scherzer yelled and gestured to the Philadelphia dugout.
Scherzer remained in the game, finished off the fourth, then the fifth, though his pitch count had climbed to 106 and his spot in the batting order was due up to lead off the sixth.
Then, as Scherzer mocked the Phillies’ dugout by holding up his glove and hat as if to declare, “I’m clean,” several members of the Nationals’ coaching staff commenced to yelling over at the Phillies’ dugout.
I have respect for people over there, I have respect for what Max has done in his career.
The Nationals won their third straight to move into a virtual three-way tie for second place in the NL East with the Phillies and Braves.
Scherzer was making his first outing after coming off the injured list because of groin inflammation.
Scherzer averaged 2,154 revolutions per minute on 21 sliders against the Phillies, his lowest total since Sept.
“If everybody’s on the same playing field, you’ve got to find a way to get over it,” Scherzer said.
Scherzer wasn’t the only pitcher in the league who wasn’t happy with being checked by umpires Tuesday night.
“Maybe there should be like a punishment if a manager checks a guy and there is something.
“It’s a good technique,” he said.
“Maybe they lose a challenge, or maybe if they have a challenge they can’t do it — I don’t know.
“Hopefully, the players across the league understand that what we’re doing right now, this is not the answer,” Scherzer said.