SEATTLE — They are awkward, they are annoying, and to some, straight-up intrusive.
They have resulted in players staring down managers and pulling down their pants.
Sunday, one caused Mariners reliever Hector Santiago to be ejected — the first casualty of the new policy.
They are MLB's pitcher inspections — a circuslike practice that is necessary for the game.
That's right — necessary. At least for now.
Over the past week, hurlers such as Max Scherzer, Sergio Romo, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani and Santiago — among several others — have been inspected by umpires for sticky substances.