UPDATE: Major League Baseball announced a 10-game suspension for Pineda on Thursday afternoon. He will begin the suspension immediately if he does not appeal.
Michael Pineda suspended 10 games for having pine tar on neck
The Yankees’ starter suddenly got a lot better when a substance appeared on his neck. The Red Sox noticed, and his night ended early.
Michael Pineda was ejected in the second inning of Wednesday night's game against the Boston Red Sox for having pine tar on his neck.
Red Sox manager John Farrell complained to umpires, who then checked Pineda for foreign substances and found the pine tar on his neck, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. As you can see below, home plate umpire Gerry Davis touches Pineda’s neck and immediately tosses him:
And now for the reverse angle:
This ejection follows Pineda’s April 10 start where people first noticed a substance after he tossed four no-hit innings. Pineda appears to have applied the substance to his neck in between the first and second innings:
The score was 2-0 Boston at the time of the ejection, and Pineda's final line was 1⅔ innings, allowing four hits and two earned runs with no walks and no strikeouts. David Phelps come on to replace him. As for subsequent punishment, rule 8.02 dictates an automatic suspension.
Pineda suspension precedent: Brendan Donnelly banned 10 gms in ’05 for substance on glove, Joel Pearlta 8 gms in ’12 for same #Yankees
— Joel Sherman (@Joelsherman1) April 24, 2014 After the game Pineda confirmed to reporters that it was pine tar on his neck, and said he would learn from the mistake and that it would not happen again.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said he expects a suspension for Pineda.
“We failed as an organization for him somehow being in that position... Clearly what took place in the 2nd inning should not have,” Cashman said, per Dan Barbarisi of the Wall Street Journal. “I think we as an organization are embarrassed that this took place... I would want my manager to do what John Farrell did.”
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