MLB commissioner Rob Manfred responds to criticisms of sticky-stuff ejections

MLB commissioner Rob Manfred responded to criticisms of recent "sticky-stuff" ejections for pitchers. 

"Nothing arbitrary about the enforcement," Manfred insisted following an owners meeting on Thursday, per Ronald Blum of the Associated Press. "The umpires all receive uniform training on what the use of rosin on the mound in the way that is allowed under the rules, what that feels like and what it feels like when you’re doing something illegal, either combining it with rubbing alcohol or sunscreen or some other sticky substance." 

Manfred spoke after crew chief Bill Miller ejected New York Mets relief pitcher Drew Smith before Smith tossed a pitch in the top of the seventh inning of Tuesday's game against the New York Yankees. Smith said after the contest an MLB official checked his hands and determined "there was nothing there," but the league nevertheless handed the 29-year-old a 10-game suspension and an undisclosed fine.

Curiously, Mets closer David Robertson noted his hands were also thoroughly examined by Miller on Tuesday. Robertson remained in the game and received no punishment. 

"I don’t accept the premise that it’s arbitrary," Manfred continued. "And, look, the sticky substance phenomenon was altering the way the game was being played on the field. And we feel that from an integrity and fairness perspective, it’s our obligation to do everything we can to make sure those rules are enforced. Where the violations happen to fall, that’s a product of who’s violating, in my view." 

Like Mets co-ace Max Scherzer back in April, Smith said he used only sweat and league-approved rosin on his hands as he's done throughout the campaign. Scherzer ultimately served a 10-game ban but has repeatedly said he violated no rules. 

"We talk to the umpires after each situation like that. I think it is fair to say across the board the violation situations were in the unquestionable zone," Manfred explained. "It was absolutely clear that the level of stickiness in each situation could not have been produced by the allowable use of a rosin bag." 

Individuals such as Phillip Martinez of SNY routinely point out that MLB has "no baseline on what is considered too 'sticky.'" Manfred's comments suggest no change to the guidelines is coming this summer, so Mets players and other pitchers need to figure out whatever it is they're doing that's considered wrong in the eyes of umpires and officials.