New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz found himself in hot water after being ejected from a game against the Chicago Cubs for having an illegal substance on his pitching hand. The crew chief, Vic Carapazza, made the call before Diaz even took the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning. According to Carapazza, the substance on Diaz’s hand was extremely sticky and discolored, clearly not rosin and sweat as claimed by Diaz.
Despite the accusations, Diaz vehemently denied using anything other than rosin, sweat, and dirt on his hands for grip. However, this didn’t prevent him from facing an automatic 10-game suspension for the illegal substance. While Diaz has the option to appeal the decision, he expressed uncertainty about doing so, acknowledging the disappointment of letting his teammates down for a significant period.
Impact on the Team
Mets manager Carlos Mendoza expressed regret over losing Diaz to suspension, noting that the team would have to play short a man for the duration of the punishment. This loss puts pressure on other players to step up and fill the void left by Diaz’s absence. Despite the setback, relievers Drew Smith and Jake Diekman demonstrated their capabilities by pitching a scoreless ninth inning in Diaz’s absence, contributing to the team’s overall success.
Diaz’s suspension comes at a challenging time as he has been struggling this season, recording just seven saves and a 4.70 ERA. His performance has been subpar, possibly influenced by his past injury setbacks. Diaz missed the entire previous season due to a knee injury sustained during a celebration at the World Baseball Classic. Additionally, he spent time on the injured list this season due to a shoulder issue before returning on June 13.
Edwin Diaz’s suspension for using an illegal substance highlights the ongoing issue of pitchers trying to gain an unfair advantage through foreign substances. Despite Diaz’s denial, the evidence was clear enough for his ejection and subsequent suspension. The Mets must now navigate through his absence and find ways to compensate for the loss of their closer. It serves as a reminder that integrity and fair play are crucial in professional sports, and violations will not go unnoticed or unpunished.
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