Learning from mistakes: Domingo German adopts new rosin strategy

Monday May 29, 2023

NEW YORK – Domingo German indicated on Sunday that he intends to reduce the amount of rosin he applies to his hands upon his return from a 10-game suspension for utilizing a foreign substance on the pitching mound.

Domingo German will start for the Yankees against the Mariners on Monday after returning from a suspension imposed by Major League Baseball on May 17.

Domingo German acknowledged the need for a different approach, recognizing that his previous actions led to his ejection from the game. He mentioned the possibility of reverting to his past practices, using the substance much less frequently than he did in previous years.

Umpires checking with Domingo German of the New York Yankees at Rogers Center on May 16, 2023, for allegedly using a sticky substance. He was ejected.

Following his ejection in the fourth inning of the Yankees’ 6-3 victory over the Blue Jays on May 16, Domingo German faced disciplinary action. Despite retiring the first nine batters, his hands were inspected by first-base umpire D.J. Reyburn as he prepared to take the mound for the fourth inning.

Crew chief James Hoye made a significant remark after the game, saying that Domingo German’s hand was the “most adhesive” he had ever seen.

During an April 15 start against Minnesota, the umpiring crew led by James Hoye had requested German to wash off. The pitcher was permitted to continue the game after retiring his initial 16 batters.

domingo-german-new-york-yankees — Twitter

On Sunday, Domingo German revealed that he hadn’t received a clear explanation regarding the precise amount of rosin that is considered appropriate to use on the mound.

The Yankees starter expressed his frustration with the lack of a clear directive regarding the appropriate amount of rosin to use, stating, “I haven’t received a better explanation from MLB or the umpires in terms of how much to use or not.” Despite the ambiguity, Domingo German emphasized the need to maintain a balance in his rosin usage while also focusing on his pitching preparation and routine between starts. Domingo German intends to continue utilizing the rosin bag and striving to execute his pitches effectively.

Since MLB began its renewed crackdown on foreign substances in June 2021, Domingo German has been among the league’s banned pitchers. After Max Scherzer of the New York Mets, he became the second pitcher this season to be suspended for 10 games. On April 19 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Scherzer was removed from the game.

During the 2021 season, both Hector Santiago from the Seattle Mariners and Caleb Smith from the Arizona Diamondbacks were suspended for their involvement with sticky substances on the pitching mound.

Boone emphasized the need for Domingo German to avoid using sticky substances and highlighted the team’s responsibility to be more attentive and ensure compliance with the rules. He expressed confidence in the Yankees starter’s ability to make the necessary adjustments, acknowledging the challenge of determining the exact boundary since there is no clear-cut definition. Boone stressed the importance of Domingo German being aware of the regulations and acting accordingly.

In his nine starts this season, Domingo German has recorded a 2-3 record with a 3.75 ERA. Since his major league debut in 2017 with the Yankees, he has accumulated a career record of 28-24 with a 4.31 ERA in 101 appearances, including 79 starts.

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