What Did the Umpires Find in Ronel Blanco’s Glove That Could Change His Season?

The baseball world is buzzing with the latest controversy surrounding Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco. In a dramatic turn of events during the Astros’ 2-1 extra-innings win over the Oakland Athletics, Blanco found himself ejected after a foreign substance check. Here’s a breakdown of what went down and why it’s the trending talk in the baseball community.

On Tuesday night, as the Astros faced off against the A’s at Minute Maid Park, third base umpire Laz Diaz inspected Blanco’s glove before the start of the fourth inning. What seemed like a routine check quickly escalated when Diaz decided to eject Blanco from the game. The glove was passed around among the umpires, and despite Blanco’s pleas, the decision to eject him stood firm. This incident has set the latest gossip mill spinning, particularly because it involves MLB’s stringent foreign substance policy, a hot topic since the league’s crackdown in mid-2021.

Blanco is now staring down a potential 10-game suspension for violating the policy. He has already indicated that he plans to file an appeal if the suspension is enforced. This development is significant, not just for Blanco but also for the Astros, who have been fighting hard to improve their standing this season. The incident brings into question the fine line pitchers tread between legal and illegal substances used during games. Astros manager Joe Espada provided his perspective, mentioning that rosin mixed with sweat was found in Blanco’s glove, which is permissible. However, the rosin being on Blanco’s non-pitching hand led to his ejection, with first base umpire Erich Bacchus describing it as “the stickiest stuff” he’s ever felt on a glove.

Despite the controversy, Blanco’s performance this season has been nothing short of spectacular. The 30-year-old pitcher had a historic start, throwing his first MLB career no-hitter on April 1, leading the Astros to a 10-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. This no-hitter, achieved in only the eighth start of his career, is the only one recorded in the majors this season. Blanco’s dominance continued into his next start, marking 14 straight innings and 44 outs without allowing a hit – the best start to a season by a pitcher since at least 1961. These stellar performances quickly cemented his place in the Astros’ rotation.

Blanco boasts a 2.23 ERA and a 4-0 record in over 44 innings this season. Before his ejection, he had allowed just four hits and struck out one batter in three innings against the A’s. Tayler Scott replaced Blanco on the mound, continuing the game for the Astros.

The game itself had its moments of excitement, with the Astros taking an early lead thanks to Alex Bregman’s solo home run in the second inning. The Athletics managed to tie the game in the eighth with Brent Rooker’s RBI single, but Victor Caratini’s RBI-single in the 10th inning secured the victory for Houston.

The Astros are currently holding a 17-25 record. After a rocky start with eight losses in their first ten games, they’ve managed to turn things around, winning five of their last six games, including a 9-2 victory over the A’s on Monday night. In contrast, the Athletics have struggled, with their loss to the Astros dropping them to a 19-25 record, having lost three straight and five of their last six games.

As the baseball season progresses, all eyes will be on Blanco and the Astros. Will Blanco’s appeal be successful? How will the Astros fare without one of their star pitchers if the suspension is upheld? Stay tuned for more of the latest gossip and trending stories in the world of sports, where the lifestyle of luxury and the drama of the game always provide something worth talking about.