Mets News: Díaz sent off for sticky stuff, faces 10-game suspension

Before throwing a pitch in the ninth inning of Sunday’s 5-2 win over the Cubs, Edwin Díaz was ejected from the game for allegedly having a banned substance on his hand when he entered the game. A violation for using so-called “sticky stuff” carries an automatic 10-game suspension that likely begins Tuesday and ends July 6. Because it’s a suspension and not a move to the injured, bereavement or paternity list, the Mets are not allowed to replace Díaz on the roster and will have to play with one fewer player for the next three series.

Díaz maintained his innocence, claiming the dark substance on his hands was a legal mix of rosin, sweat and dirt. After checking his gloves, hat and belt, referees found no illegal substances on Díaz’s equipment. Díaz continued to plead with referee Vic Carapazza to smell his hand to confirm there was nothing unusual there. Carapazza said:

“It definitely wasn’t rosin and sweat. We’ve tested thousands of those. I know the feeling. It was very sticky. … Without question, it was way too sticky. It didn’t take me very long.”

It is at the discretion of the umpire whether a player is allowed to wash his hands or is ejected from the game immediately. Umpires can also call for new gloves and even force a player to shower before throwing a pitch if they suspect a violation. Caraoazza was ejected immediately.

Since the rule went into effect in 2022, only seven players have been suspended for it, and nearly half of them played for the Mets. Díaz, Drew Smith and now Ranger Max Scherzer all claim to have only used rosin, a substance allowed in moderation, and none of them had the opportunity to wash their hands.

There is no doubt that the rules regarding the amount of rosin allowed are unclear and many would say arbitrary. The Mets need to figure out what is considered appropriate to avoid future suspensions. But beyond that, this rule needs to be revisited and normalized so that all players are treated equally across the board.