Catcher Molina avoids potentially sticky mess
St. Louis Cardinals reliever Brett Cecil knew the video of the ball getting stuck on catcher Yadier Molina’s chest protector would go viral.
“I fully expected that because I’ve never seen it,” Cecil said Friday before St. Louis played the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium. “I’ve been playing baseball for a long time and I’ve never seen it, so I’m sure there is an uproar about it. But, if I could explain it I would, but I can’t.”
Whatever happened, it’s over. Major League Baseball looked into the bizarre play involving Molina and determined there wasn’t any rules violation.
Molina said he had no idea how Cecil’s pitch bounced into his protector and clung to it Thursday against the Chicago Cubs. He was asked postgame if he put something sticky there, and the Gold Glove star dismissed it as a “dumb question.”
Molina wasn’t available Friday to the media.
Catchers sometimes dab pine tar on their shin guards to help give them a better grip on throws.
MLB Rule 3.01 prohibits players from intentionally discoloring or damaging balls with foreign substances, and the penalty is an ejection and 10-game suspension.
But simply having sandpaper, an emery board or some sticky agent on a player’s uniform or in his possession is only a violation for the pitcher.
The Cardinals led in the seventh when Cecil got Cubs pinch-hitter Matt Szczur to strike out on a pitch in the dirt. The ball skipped up and stuck to Molina’s protector by the time he located it, Szczur was safely at first base.
The Cubs turned their good fortune into a four-run rally and a win at Busch Stadium.
“I really don’t have any explanation for it,” Cecil said. “I don’t use any foreign substances. You guys saw Yadi spinning around, and the ball didn’t even come off.”
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny, a former catcher himself, couldn’t explain it a day later.
Dodgers
Pitcher Rich Hill went on the 10-day disabled list with a blister on the middle finger of his pitching hand. Hill, 37, a left-hander, spent more than a month on the disabled list in 2016 while dealing with blisters on his fingers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said “for us, just to kind of get ahead of it and knowing what we learned from last year, it just made sense. Throughout spring training, his [preseason)] start in Anaheim, there was nothing. And so I don’t know if it was a little deviation in his pregame.” Hill felt discomfort late Wednesday in a 3-1 victory against San Diego and was taken out after he allowed two hits and one run in five innings. Right-handed reliever Josh Fields was called up from Class AAA Oklahoma City to replace Hill on the active roster.
Brewers
Keon Broxton was back with Milwaukee and eager to return to the batter’s box a day after getting hit in the helmet by a fastball. The former Pirates outfielder wasn’t in the starting lineup Friday night against the Chicago Cubs, but was expected to be available if needed. Broxton’s face was a little swollen when he spoke before the game. Otherwise, he said his vision was good, and that he wasn’t feeling any headaches.”
Orioles
Baltimore acquired right-handed reliever Miguel Castro, 22, from Colorado for a player to be named or cash. Colorado designated Castro for assignment Sunday.
Angels
Los Angeles placed right-hander Garrett Richards on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right biceps.