Watch: David Cone experiment offers defense for Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: David Cone experiment offers defense for Mets' Max Scherzer

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 4/24/23

Former MLB pitcher David Cone seemed to verify claims made by New York Mets co-ace Max Scherzer regarding Scherzer's 10-game suspension related to the use of foreign substances.

As mentioned by Justin Tasch of the New York Post and Karl Rasmussen of Sports Illustrated, Cone conducted an experiment that he shared during the "Sunday Night Baseball" broadcast of the contest between the Mets and San Francisco Giants. Cone showed that a combination of league-approved "rock rosin" and sweat made his hands "sticky." He then used rubbing alcohol to clean his hands similar to what Scherzer did during last Wednesday's game at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Even with just the rock rosin, it got sticky," Cone explained. "The alcohol sort of activates the rest of the rosin."

David Cone did a rosin experiment for Sunday Night Baseball. pic.twitter.com/9WoMCDPI67
— ESPN (@espn) April 24, 2023

Scherzer was warned early in his start against the Dodgers about the stickiness of his hand. He later noted that he washed "with alcohol in front of" an MLB official but was nevertheless ultimately ejected before the bottom of the fourth inning. While Scherzer has repeatedly insisted he used only legal substances, umpires for the game said the 38-year-old's hand "was far stickier than anything that we felt certainly today and anything this year."

The league suspended Scherzer for 10 games and fined him. According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), his fine was reduced from $10,000 to $5,000 after he dropped his appeal.

"I knew I was going to get checked in the fourth," a visibly-annoyed Scherzer told reporters shortly after Wednesday's game. "So I'd have to be an absolute idiot to try to do anything when I am coming back out for the fourth."

Former players and also insiders such as Jon Heyman of MLB Network and the New York Post have criticized the league for its handling of the Scherzer matter. Nevertheless, the Mets will be without their top healthy starting pitcher for at least another six games. Scherzer is eligible to return on May 1 against the Atlanta Braves.

Without Scherzer, the Mets went 2-2 in their series at the Giants to finish a successful 7-3 West Coast road trip. 14-9 New York next hosts the 7-14 Washington Nationals on Tuesday night.

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