Wednesday June 23, 2021
Scandal over new rules in baseball
Pants down for the referee
Suddenly a professional baseball player stands in front of the referee with his pants down. A lot of excitement in two games of the young MLB season. A new rule, according to which the referees are allowed to examine the clothing, creates the trouble.
Major League Baseball has just started its new season, and there is already the first farce on the field. This is because of a new rule that allows referees to screen pitchers for suspicious substances that could help them get a better grip. Glue, for example, or other slippery means. Controls may now be carried out during the game. The general suspicion does not go down well with everyone.
In Philadelphia at the Washington Nationals game against the Philadelphia Phillies, there was an initial upset. Nats ace Max Scherzer should be examined for the third time in the fourth inning – he did his job for the referee suspiciously well. He’d grabbed his hair once too much. His opponents suspected it was a suspicious substance. Scherzer reached it: he threw off his gloves and baseball cap and tore his belt open. Before he could open his pants, team members and referees were with him. Scherzer argued with them, visibly excited.
Phillies manager Joe Girardi had apparently instigated the dispute again and again when he noticed that Scherzer was irritated by it. Eventually he was banned from the game because of it. Scherzer’s team, the Nats, won 3-2 despite the excitement. “These are Manfred’s rules,” hissed Scherzer after the game, referring to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred. “Ask him. I’ve said enough.”
Even the pants fall
But that’s not all, in the MLB, the dispute over the substance test continued on the same evening. In the Texas Rangers game against the Oakland Athletics, Oakland’s Sergio Romo even surpassed Scherzer’s tantrum. Or copied him skillfully? The Reliever even pulled his pants down during an investigation after the seventh inning.
“He’s a playful guy and I don’t think he meant it badly,” said athletics manager Bob Melvin after his team’s 13: 6 win. “I would like to praise the referees for the way they handled it. They were fantastic and tried to take things lightly, smile with the guys and get it done quickly, so that something like that was tried to be taken lightly won’t happen anymore. The playful side of him just came out. I don’t think he meant it badly. But the referees are trying to do their job too. “
The new rule could give the MLB a very special flavor this season. Each club will play more than 160 main round matches – a lot of stress is inevitable.
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