After over a week of speculation, MLB announced Tuesday that beginning June 21, umpires will conduct checks for foreign substances such as pine tar or other pitch grip enhancers to enforce the rule against applying them to the baseball in games.
Offending players will be ejected from that game and automatically suspended for 10 more, and while that suspension is with pay, the team will have to play without that player for that 10-day stretch.
“I think it’s really going to affect your club,” Hyde said. “It’s a stiff penalty, and to lose a player 10 days and lose a roster spot for 10 days is … Obviously, MLB is going to be very, very serious about this and taking action and we’re going to follow it.