Umps massage Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove's ears after Mets call for illegal substance check - Sporting News

[massage]

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. He finished the team's 6-0 win with seven shutout innings with only one hit, a walk and five strikeouts.

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

After the game, Musgrove told ESPN's Buster Olney that it "motivated me a little." Musgrove he said he didn't know what was on his ears.

"It fired me up," Musgrove said. "I had been throwing the ball well all night and they were doing everything they could do to get me out of there so opportunity to stick it to them a little bit, stick it to the crowd. I took it then I had to get back to work."

Showalter explained after the game that he received a lot of information about Musgrove's outing that prompted him to ask for the umpires to take a look at his ear.

"I'm charged with doing what's best for the New York Mets. If it makes me look however it makes me look or whatever, I'm going to do it every time and live with the consequences," Showalter said. "I'm not here to not hurt somebody's feelings. I'm going to do what's best for our players and the New York Mets. I felt like that was best for us right now."

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