Veteran umpire Joe West confiscated a card from Phillies reliever Austin Davis n the eighth inning of Philadelphia’s 7-1 loss to the Chicago Cubs on Saturday night.
Joe West just pulled the “5th grade teacher” move when they take a note being passed in class. #Phillies btw-He’s a joke. Gabe should have blown a gasket.
— Ducis Rodgers (@duciswild) September 2, 2018
Davis and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler said he was using the card merely for information on the Cubs hitters. West said that was illegal under Rule 6.02(c)(7), which states that the pitcher shall not have on his person, or in his possession, any foreign substance.
The umpire called the league office after the game and admitted that the use of the card might be in a gray area.
“I didn’t want to throw him out,” West said. “I know it’s foreign, but he’s not trying to cheat. Maybe he’s trying to get an advantage because he’s reading the scouting report, but it wasn’t pine tar, it wasn’t an emery board, it wasn’t whatever.
“In the long run, maybe they’ll let him [have the card]. Right now, my hands are tied until they say yes or now. Right now, until the office says it’s OK to carry this, he can’t do it.”
Joe West cited the rule that a pitcher shall have no" foreign substance" on him, hence he took the cheat sheet away. League is going to have to look into it, West said. He hasn't had a pitcher do it but knows others use them.
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) September 2, 2018
Both Kapler and Davis were disappointed by the decision. Cheat sheats should not be allowed at the mound. Nothing on the pitcher, that way you don’t have to worry about a pitcher using any substances on the bal.
