Domingo Germán promises to cut back on suspension-worthy levels of rosin

Coming of a 10-game suspension after being caught using a copious amount of “sticky stuff”, Domingo Germán has promised to use less rosin.

On May 16 against the Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees starter Domingo Germán was ejected for using too much rosin (#stickystuff). He was subsequently, like New York Mets pitcher Max Scherzer before him this season, given a 10-game suspension for the indiscretion.

After that game, crew chief James Hoye described Germán’s hand as “the stickiest I’ve ever felt” and “definitely not rosin.” Not just rosin might be a more apt description. But in any case, photo evidence says Germán was not exactly hiding how much he was using of whatever he was using when he was ejected.

Back on April 15 against the Minnesota Twins, Germán was checked for a sticky substance but allowed to stay in the game after washing it off. So he put himself on the radar of all MLB umpiring crews then, then got busted, ejected and suspended by the same umpiring crew a month later.

Domingo Germán promises not to use suspension-level amounts of rosin anymore

Via ESPN.com/AP:

"“You have to do something different because what I did before got me ejected from the game, he said through an interpreter. Probably go back to previous years before where I used it way less,” Germán said."

So Germán will “probably” go back to using way less rosin like he did in previous years. But in the two starts he was checked for a sticky substance, he retired the first 16 and nine batters he faced respectively. Overall, in his nine starts this year, his WHIP is a career-best (0.896) and his K/9 rate is up from 2022 (9.2, from 7.2).

Germán is, apparently still, seeking an explanation from MLB or umpires for how much rosin is too much.

"As far as like a direct explanation on how much to use or not, I haven’t gotten a better explanation from MLB or the umpires he said. To me, I have to keep using it, understand how much to use and keep a balance."

Germán will of course be subject to longer than a 10-game suspension if he runs afoul of the sticky stiff rules again.