David Robertson #30 of the New York Mets reacts after the final out of a game against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field on April 27, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
New York Mets relief pitcher David Robertson said that the same umpiring crew that ejected Drew Smith for sticky stuff on Tuesday tried to throw him out of the game as well.
The New York Mets have not had the best of luck regarding sticky substance checks with umpiring crews. Back in mid-April, Max Scherzer was ejected in a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers for sticky stuff, which he claimed was a mix of sweat and rosin. Then on Tuesday night in the team’s Subway Series game against the Yankees, relief pitcher Drew Smith was ejected before even throwing a pitch due to sticky stuff. As it turns out, Smith was almost joined on the sidelines by a fellow bullpen arm.
David Robertson told Newsday’s Tim Healey that after his appearance on Tuesday night, the umpires claimed that his hands were sticky. However, Robertson was told he could wash off his hands instead of getting thrown out.
“He felt like my hands were sticky,” Robertson said, h/t Audacy. “And I told him that his hands felt sticky. I said, I have absolutely nothing on me. I’ve done nothing but grab the rosin bag.
“The fact that I was even told that was shocking.”
David Robertson claims umpires told him his hands were too sticky right after ejecting Drew Smith
Imagine the vitriol of already irritated Mets fans if another pitcher got thrown out over sticky stuff in the same game. Luckily, that wasn’t the case.
In the Tuesday night game, Robertson recorded two strikeouts and allowed just one hit on 10 pitchers thrown in one inning. The Mets went on to lose that game 7-6.
Robertson did pitch on Wednesday night for the final game of the two-game set with the Yankees. In one inning pitched, Robertson recorded one strikeout and one walk while surrendering one hit on 17 pitches.
As for Smith, he claimed that he forced an MLB official in the tunnel to check his hands before pitching, and said the official laughed and told him that there was “nothing there.” Smith opted against appealing his suspension, so he was out for 10 games since the Tuesday night contest.