MLB umpires take the responsibility of checking for sticky stuff very seriously. They check belts, hats, jerseys, gloves and more.
The Mets asked for them to look elsewhere as part of a bizarre investigation Sunday night in the deciding Game 3 of their Wild Card Series vs. the Padres.
Before San Diego starter Joe Musgrove could pitch in the bottom of the sixth, Mets manager Buck Showalter requested that umpires investigate Musgrove’s ears for potential foreign substances. It led to this strange close encounter.
Eargate. pic.twitter.com/xqaclYMjbA
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) October 10, 2022
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Musgrove was dealing in an elimination game at New York’s Citi Field. He did not give up a hit until the bottom of the fifth inning.
The Mets evidently thought he might be using some type of substance to gain an advantage, as did a lot of people online.
@Mets Musgrove has got a vaseline substance all over his ear. He’s been going to it early in the start of the inning. Check his ears. #cheating pic.twitter.com/Hodxndbpnb
— Aloysius (@JDuuuuuuBs) October 9, 2022
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The umpires found nothing and Musgrove remained in the game. The Padres seemed to relish the failed probe.
Third baseman Manny Machado laughed at the Mets’ dugout, Musgrove gestured at the dugout after striking out Tomas Nido for the second out of the inning, and he rubbed his ear as he walked off the mound after retiring New York 1-2-3.
Musgrove is staying in the game and Manny gives the Mets dugout a little smirk pic.twitter.com/Oii3XASjZx
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 10, 2022
Joe Musgrove with a little gesture to the Mets dugout! pic.twitter.com/9VBGYq8FwE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 10, 2022
Fans in the stadium decided early that he was somehow guilty. The New York crowd began chanting “Cheater!”
Mets fans chanting cheater despite having zero evidence of Musgrove doing so pic.twitter.com/LcDUuv0aZp
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) October 10, 2022
Musgrove left the game after throwing seven scoreless innings. The Padres were up 6-0 heading to the bottom of the ninth.
Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen speculated that Musgrove had Red Hot behind his ear, saying that it helps pitchers stay focused.
Here we go. I guarantee Musgrove has Red Hot on his ears. Pitchers use it as mechanism to stay locked in during games. It burns like crazy and IDK why some guys thinks it helps them but in no way is it “sticky.” Buck is smart tho. Could be trying to just throw him off.
— Andrew McCutchen (@TheCUTCH22) October 10, 2022
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The internet has also since cherished the investigation, unloading a wave of puns and jokes about the situation.
Mets are never gonna ear the end of this one
— Brendan Kuty (@BrendanKutyNJ) October 10, 2022
I am loving all these puns, in fact I can’t ear them enough
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) October 10, 2022
They’d have to play it by ear. https://t.co/dROlXePX2P
— Tyrone (@TheTyronePalmer) October 10, 2022
The New York Post “There’s Always Next Ear” headline tomorrow is going to be incredible.
— Frank Pallotta (@frankpallotta) October 10, 2022
It’s a “consp-EAR-acy”. #nailedit#lgm | #CaptureTheMoment
— Robert Flores (@RoFlo) October 10, 2022
Joe Musgrove pic.twitter.com/ppRJGC7aL5
— Dan McQuade (@dhm) October 10, 2022
The only thing they found goin on with Joe Musgrove pic.twitter.com/3e33DWjsin
— Stephen Schoch (@bigdonkey47) October 10, 2022
the umpire then showed Joe a quarter he found behind his ear pic.twitter.com/HQmno3OVrs
— Jessica Kleinschmidt (@KleinschmidtJD) October 10, 2022
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