Insider expands on sticky-stuff ejection, suspension of Mets' Edwin Diaz

Some wondered after New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz suffered a sticky-stuff ejection in the ninth inning of New York's 5-2 win at the Chicago Cubs on Sunday evening why Diaz wasn't permitted to wash his hands before a second examination occurred.

MLB insider Andy Martino of SNY addressed that subject before the league officially confirmed that Diaz had received the expected automatic 10-game suspension.

"According to a person with direct knowledge of these incidents, that option comes when the hand or glove is discolored but not sticky, or tacky without being sticky (the difference between tacky and sticky during the umpire training process was clear; this is not a gray area)," Martino wrote about why Diaz wasn't given the opportunity to wash his hand.

Former Mets co-ace Max Scherzer and Clarke Schmidt of the New York Yankees are among pitchers who previously were allowed to wash hands deemed by umpires as being "sticky" during games. While Diaz insisted shortly after Sunday's victory that he used only MLB-allowed rosin, sweat and dirt on his hand before he planned to take the Wrigley Field bump, Martino noted that "the standard for ejection, in fact, is quite simple" regarding what's discovered on a pitcher.

"Sticky means ejection," Martino wrote. "In MLB’s rules, there is no 'too sticky.' It’s binary, a yes or no."

As shared by Sam Neumann of Awful Announcing, former MLB pitcher and current analyst David Cone said during the broadcast of the "Sunday Night Baseball" game that a combination of rosin and sweat "can definitely make your fingers discolored." Nevertheless, it now appears the Mets will be without their closer through at least the first full midweek of July.

The 37-39 Mets entered Tuesday one-and-a-half games back in the battle for the National League's third wild-card playoff spot. They were hoping Diaz would reclaim his best form sooner rather than later following a recent stint on the injured list because of a shoulder impingement, but it's now safe to wonder if he'll have second thoughts about what he does or doesn't place on his hands before future relief appearances.

The Mets open a two-game series against the 52-28 New York Yankees on Tuesday night.