There was a funny exchange between Max Scherzer and home plate umpire Ron Kulpa in the Mets’ Thursday night loss.
Once the start of round four was over, Scherzer was stopped by Kulpa for a chat. Many onlookers thought it was substance testing, but the discussion seemed like more than the usual inspection for a foreign substance.
Scherzer looked confused and seemed to be asking a lot of questions. After the conversation, Scherzer was visibly annoyed in the dugout.
Apparently, it was about the PitchCom and how the Mets ace used it on the mound.
“Ron was saying when I’m on the mound off the stretch, if I come in and hit the button while I’m on the mound, technically I’m coming, I’m stopping,” Scherzer said after the game. “I don’t know. It doesn’t matter.”
Every time Scherzer has a long conversation with a referee, the topic of sticky stuff comes up because of the prospective Hall of Famer’s suspension earlier in the year. But director Buck Showalter made sure to let reporters know after the game that it had nothing to do with it.
“It has nothing to do with pantyhose,” he said. “Ron Kulpa decided it could be a refusal or something or a double set. I’m sure Ron was trying to get ahead and warn him… At some point you have to take your hand and press the button.
Kulpa has been at the forefront of a few games in this series with the Brewers. The team leader was at the center of Wednesday’s loss when a hit-per-pitch was not discussed despite the Brewers batter appearing to have swung. The moment would lead to Showalter’s ejection and was a pivotal moment in this match.
Missed calls and the PitchCom tag aside, Thursday’s loss put the Mets nine games into the season below .500 at the season’s midpoint. Scherzer pitched well, allowing just two runs over six innings, but it wasn’t enough as the offense couldn’t time it.
With half a season to go, Scherzer was asked how the team could turn things around and his answer was spot-on.
“Play better. Hitters need to hit. Pitchers need to throw. Defensemen need to play. Round bases well,” he said. “That’s how you win ball games.”