R.A. Dickey Forced to Remove Friendship Bracelets (Made by His Kids) Against Reds (Video)

by Mike Cole on Thu, Aug 16, 2012 at 3:11PM

How much damage can a friendship bracelet do in a Major League Baseball game? One umpiring crew tends to think they give a pitcher quite the advantage, apparently.

Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey was on the receiving end of a seemingly unreasonable request on Wednesday night when pitching against the Cincinnati Reds.

Home plate umpire James Hoye decided that he hated fun or something, and marched out to the mound in the second inning Wednesday night. Moments later, Dickey motioned over to the Mets dugout and called on the training staff to bring out some scissors.

That’s because Hoye decided it was imperative to the game’s integrity to force Dickey to take off his friendship bracelets.Those friendship bracelets were made for Dickey by his daughters, so there’s that.

Technically speaking, it was the right decision, at least when it comes to abiding by the rule book. However, they were also worn on his left wrist (his glove hand) and they would never be described as colorful. In other words, there is no way they could have been a distraction.

“I’ve had them on for every start, every bullpen session,” Dickey said, according to ESPN.com. “I was a little angry at first.”

Dickey and Mets manager Terry Collins would later have what looked to be an increasingly heated conversation with Hoye and crew chief Jim Joyce.

The Mets went on to lose 6-1 behind an uninspiring performance from Dickey. The veteran right-hander didn’t use that as an excuse, though.

Thank you everyone for your support on the bracelets. my girls appreciate it too. i wish it was as easy as saying that was the reason but…

— R.A. Dickey (@RADickey43) August 16, 2012

poorly thrown knuckleballs have a tendency to get hit, and i throw some today. Besides, i’m going to hide the bracelets on me when i pitch.

— R.A. Dickey (@RADickey43) August 16, 2012