Mets manager Buck Showalter called for an inspection, and hilarity ensued
With the New York Mets trailing the San Diego Padres 4-0 in the sixth inning of an elimination game, it was clear that the home team needed a spark. Manager Buck Showalter’s idea to provide that spark, however, touched off an internet frenzy.
Prior to the bottom of the inning, Showalter met with the umpires and requested that they inspect Padres starting pitcher Joe Musgrove for foreign substances. Through five innings, Musgrove had allowed just one hit, a single from Pete Alonso in the fourth inning. The umpires then inspected Musgrove at Showalter’s request, paying particular attention to his ... ears?
Mets manager Buck Showalter called for a substance check on Joe Musgrove.
— ESPN (@espn) October 10, 2022
The umpires looked at Musgrove's hand, glove, hat and ears.
They found nothing and Musgrove remained in the game. pic.twitter.com/UVyzzuTK3T
The incident touched off a frenzy of jokes on social media.
— pourmecoffee (@pourmecoffee) October 10, 2022
i hope the umpires find a giant novelty quarter pic.twitter.com/yJjsTCip1j
— Hector Diaz (@iamHectorDiaz) October 10, 2022
When you’re 30 years old and grandpa insists on finding quarters behind your ear at Easter pic.twitter.com/qezbfrx6kL
— Richard Staff (@RichardStaff) October 10, 2022
Christ Healing the Ear of Malchus, artist unknown, 17th century pic.twitter.com/OUtg5H8NLD
— ArtButMakeItSports (@ArtButSports) October 10, 2022
All pitchers from here on out. ... pic.twitter.com/gRiNsQkAMq
— Daniel Shirley (@DM_Shirley) October 10, 2022
Joe Musgrove to the umps next inning. pic.twitter.com/rEKLAYnFXF
— Evan Daniel (@itsmrevandaniel) October 10, 2022
While the request from Showalter might have been made to try and throw Musgrove off his game, it did not have the desired impact. The Padres starting pitcher enjoyed another 1-2-3 inning after the substance check, getting a groundout from Eduardo Escobar, a strikeout of Tomas Nido, and a flyout from Brandon Nimmo.
After the punchout of Nido, Musgrove seemed to share a reaction in the direction of Showalter and the Mets’ dugout:
Joe Musgrove with a little gesture to the Mets dugout! pic.twitter.com/9VBGYq8FwE
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 10, 2022
Wil Myers & Daniel Vogelbach were yelling back and forth during the inning.
— Kevin Acee (@sdutKevinAcee) October 10, 2022
After retiring Mets in order, Joe Musgrove looked back toward Buck Showalter and cupped his ear.
Musgrove has allowed one hit through six innings. His spin is up a bit. He might be a little amped.
While Musgrove passed the in-game inspection, that did not stop speculation on social media about him potentially using something to stay locked in. Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Andrew McCutchen speculated that Musgrove might be using “red hot” to stay in the zone while on the mound:
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
That’s ... certainly one way to stay focused.
Musgrove returned to the bump for the bottom of the seventh, and despite walking the leadoff hitter, Starling Marte, he managed to get through the inning unscathed. He got shortstop Francisco Lindor to ground out to first base, with Marte advancing to second, and then Alonso lined out to right field for the second out of the inning. Second baseman Jeff McNeil then grounded out to first to end the inning.
But not the jokes on social media.
