“I guess rules don't apply to some privileged players” - MLB fans react as umpire sends Justin Steele to wash hands instead of being ejected
Justin Steele of the Chicago Cubs is having a terrific season. However, although the southpaw is one of the best arms in MLB, that does not necessarily mean he is above the rules.
During Steele's most recent start on Tuesday, the 29-year-old was stopped after the third inning by umpire crew chief Vic Carapazza, who carried out a routine inspection. However, after spending more time than usual, it was determined that Carapazza had found a sort of foreign substance on Steele's hands.
"Justin Steele was told to go wash his hands after the umpire felt a sticky substance on his hand. It’s the same umpire that tossed Edwin Diaz immediately with no opportunity to wash his hands. It just doesn’t make sense." - Ben Verlander
Instead of being ejected, Steele was merely told to wash his hands and remained in the game.
Per MLB regulations, any pitcher found with a foreign substance faces immediate ejection and a 10-game suspension. However, the rule also gives umpires latitude in making the call. As was evidenced by the uproar on X, many fans feel as though Steele was given special treatment.
To make matters worse, Carapazza was the same umpire who handed New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz a 10-game suspension in June on account of "sticky stuff" on his hands. The lack of consistency surrounding events like this has left many fans angered and confused about the ostensible double standard.
"@MLB needs to explain this to the Mets and Diaz. Make absolutely no sense," claimed a fan
"MLB targets and makes an example of the Steve Cohen Mets.. plain and simple," volunteered another.
"Mets vs the league," continued another.
Divergent reactions are nothing new when it comes to enforcing MLB's foreign substances directive. In 2023, then-Mets pitcher Max Scherzer was ejected and given a 10-game suspension for allegedly using a foreign substance. The ruling stood, despite the fact that Scherzer "swore on his children" that he had not been using any sort of substance to increase his grip on the ball.
"Inconsistencies," grumbled a voice of dissent.
"Could be racism," was another postulation.
"Fire him," came a final frustrated voice.
Justin Steele situation indicative of one of baseball's most complex issues
Mostly everyone can agree that using a substance that improves grip and velocity gives the pitcher a clear and unfair advantage. However, drawing that line remains one of baseball's biggest question marks. As Diaz told SNY after his ejection in June:
"I just said I use the same thing as always, I rub rosin, sweat, and I put my hand in the dirt a little bit because I need to have some grip on the ball. So that's what I was explaining to them, but they said it was too much stick. I understood. But at the end of the day, I was using rosin, sweat, and put my hand in the dirt."
As players are allowed to use rosin, the lack of standardization as to what constitutes "sticky stuff" lends itself to a massive grey area. Fortunately for the Chicago Cubs, Justin Steele found himself on the right side of that nebulous regulation on Tuesday.