New York Mets fans were convinced that San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove was had an illegal substance on his ear.
On Saturday, three of the four Wild Card Series’ ended in sweeps. The lone series that did not was between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres. After the Padres took Game 1, the Mets took Game 2 behind a stellar performance by ace Jacob deGrom. Sunday was Game 3, the win or go home contest that would determine who would play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS.
On the mound for the Padres was Joe Musgrove, who recorded a 2.93 ERA, a 10-7 record, and a 1.08 WHIP in 30 regular season games started. During the game, some baseball fans pointed out that they believed Musgrove had an illegal substance on his right ear.
@Mets Musgrove has got a vaseline substance all over his ear. He's been going to it early in the start of the inning. Check his ears. #cheating pic.twitter.com/Hodxndbpnb
— Aloysius (@JDuuuuuuBs) October 9, 2022
Mets manager Buck Showalter decided in the bottom of the sixth inning that he wanted the umpires to check Musgrove for any substances. After checking his glove and his ears, the umpires determined that there was no sticky substance on his ear.
Mets fans believed that Joe Musgrove was cheating in Game 3
Mets fans were not that pleased when umpires determined that Musgrove did not have any illegal substance on his ear.
No way Musgrove doesn’t have something on his ear
— A.N.T (@DopeXAnt) October 10, 2022
Musgrove gesturing to the Mets dugout after striking out Nido. Wow, congrats.
— CluelessMickey (@CluelessMickeyC) October 10, 2022
Musgrove wasn’t cheating 💔💔 pic.twitter.com/1LNvPrkUz4
— . (@KayvonPlzSack) October 10, 2022
Musgrove is a cheat and Buck is calling him out! It’s obvious he has foreign substance on his ears. Mets should put game under protest.
— nysfan9 (@73jrjz5) October 10, 2022
You have to cheat to beat us???? How pathetic are you, Musgrove???? https://t.co/MoPM6idMDB
— Frank Nastasi (@FrankEliz) October 10, 2022
Looks like Musgrove is showing the Padres how to cheat to victory in post season. #2022PadresCheaters
— C B (@ccbtweets13) October 10, 2022
I mean Joe Musgrove was an Astro in 2017. He would be well aware on how to cheat. It’s in their DNA down there.
— Anthony Capizzi (@AnthonyCap0815) October 10, 2022
Let’s just say that Musgrove was not very happy that the Mets wanted him to get checked by umpires. Immediately after the inspection, Musgrove struck out Tomas Nido. That is when he looked towards the Mets dugout, and wiped his nose.
https://twitter.com/PitchingNinja/status/1579275912167968768
At that point in the game, the Padres were up 4-0 after a Austin Nola hit a two-run single in the second inning, an RBI single by Trent Grisham in the fourth, and an RBI single by Manny Machado in the fifth.
Showalter noticed Musgrove’s ears, much like baseball fans did, and decided to get them checked. There was nothing there. Musgrove was just on fire on Sunday night in the elimination game.