Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly hilariously handed over his goggles to umpires during Monday night’s game against the San Diego Padres.
Since the MLB started inspecting pitchers for violating the sticky substance rule, pitchers have responded in a variety of ways. On Monday night, Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly poked some fun at the controversy by handing over his goggles after the game ended.
According to USA Today columnist Bob Nightengale, the umpires did not ask Kelly for his goggles, he just wanted to show them how “sick” they were.
LA #Dodgers reliever Joe Kelly handed the umpires his goggles last night, not that they asked to inspect them, but to let them know how "sick'' they were. Kelly also loves the idea that pitchers are now being checked. "It's now the same playing field as far as the sticky stuff.''
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) June 22, 2021
Indeed, Kelly’s specs are so famous amongst MLB fans, someone even created a Twitter account called “Joe Kelly’s Glasses” dedicated to “providing the best vision in baseball.”
Joe Kelly tells umps to inspect his glass because they’re “sick”
Kelly also said he has no issues with being checked for use of foreign substances.
“It’s one of those tests that I’m really good at passing,” Kelly told Matt Moreno of Dodger Blue.
Joe Kelly also offered his glasses to umpires last night and they initially said that wasn't part of the check.
— Matthew Moreno (@Matthew__Moreno) June 22, 2021
Kelly told them, "You should check these anyway, because they're sick." https://t.co/Id5burFFYv
Pitchers will reportedly face a 10-day suspension if they are caught using sticky foreign substances such as Spider Tack. Like many of his fellow MLB stars, Kelly appreciates that the increased inspections put pitchers on a level playing field.
The 33-year-old Kelly is 2-0 this season for the Dodgers with 13 strikeouts in 14.1 innings pitched. It is his tenth season in the majors.