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Sports Seriously
Zack Wheeler wasn’t interested in the Toronto Blue Jays’ complaints about his pitching motion Friday night.
After Toronto challenged the Phillies ace’s delivery during a heated game, Wheeler suggested the struggling Blue Jays were simply deflecting.
“They’ve lost a lot of games over there, so they’re probably trying to pick some things up to complain about,” Wheeler said after the game.
The Blue Jays spent much of the game questioning whether Wheeler was legally keeping his back foot on the pitching rubber during his delivery. Toronto believed Wheeler’s foot was coming off the rubber on the first-base side before he released the ball.
Wheeler said home plate umpire John Tumpane warned him early in the game to make sure he stayed on the rubber after conversations with the Blue Jays dugout. Wheeler said he was already aware of the issue because MLB had previously reviewed video of his delivery from a nationally televised game earlier this season. The Phillies reportedly provided additional video and data that showed he was legal.
The Blue Jays pressed the issue throughout the game, culminating with Toronto hitting coach David Popkins yelling from the dugout during the fourth inning for umpires to “get him on the rubber,” leading to his ejection by Tumpane.
Immediately after Popkins was tossed, TV cameras caught Wheeler turning toward the Blue Jays dugout and yelling an expletive. Wheeler later confirmed it was directed at Popkins.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider downplayed the controversy and defended his staff.
“Let me say this first and foremost, Zack Wheeler is an unbelievable pitcher and has been for a long time,” Schneider said. “I have all the respect in the world for him. We were just getting information that his foot was off the rubber on the first-base side. … It’s hard to see in real time.
“This dude’s been pitching at an elite level for his entire career. … But it was just an example of our hitting coach kind of protecting the players and me doing the same.”
The Blue Jays got the last word on this night, though, beating Wheeler and the Phillies, 5-4.