Mets reliever Jacob Rhame was slapped with a two-game suspension, the MLB commissioner’s office announced. It was determined that he intentionally threw a pitch near the head of Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins on Tuesday.
It isn’t clear yet whether Rhame will appeal, though Mike Puma of the New York Post tweets that he is expected to do so. Should he do so, he’ll be eligible to remain on the active roster during the pendency of the appeal.
The 26-year-old Rhame already received some on-field retribution yesterday in the form of a Hoskins bomb, punctuated by an exceedingly slow home run trot. To his credit, Rhame did not begrudge the payback, saying: “He got me. If I make a better pitch, he doesn’t get to run the bases.” Hopefully, the Mets-Phillies feud will be put to rest without any more beanballs (or near misses).
In terms of roster considerations, Rhame was already a candidate to be sent down after a rough showing to begin the season. The Mets will need to go a man down for any games Rhame is ultimately sidelined by suspension. It’s certainly possible he could be optioned out after serving his time.
*An earlier version of this post mistakenly suggested that a team can fill a player’s roster spot while he is serving a suspension for an on-field infraction.
Dixon Miaz
might as well DFA him tbh
IloveMACfootball
Hoskins proved one thing for sure… that Hoskins is a complete tool.
Bart Harley Jarvis
rust, can I call you rust? Here, let me help you out with your issue.
Psychological projection is a defence mechanism in which the human ego defends itself against unconscious impulses or qualities (both positive and negative) by denying their existence in themselves while attributing them to others.
davidcoonce74
Guy had two 95 MPH fastballs thrown at his head. Rhames should be suspended much longer than two games.
whynot 2
If he was on the team you like, you would probably be the first to say “that’s just playing old school baseball”
davidcoonce74
I could care less about the Phillies and the Mets, but I care very much about the idea that throwing two straight pitches at a guy’s head, at over 95 MPH, is a good thing.
whynot 2
If you watch the guy pitch you would know, with his lack of control he was likely meaning to throw it at waist level and it sailed, just like everything else he throw
davidcoonce74
That is so much baloney. Oscar Meyer is hiring you.
whynot 2
How old are you? With references like that, you can’t be under 50, probably 60.
davidcoonce74
My age is in my username. And no, I am not 74.
@DaOldDerbyBastard
It wasn’t two straight pitches. There were pitches in between them.
a dawg
Rhame got sent down back to aaa and it wasn’t for intentionally trying to hit anyone honestly he couldn’t do it if he tried
whosyourmomma
100% agree! Otherwise why don’t most teams bring up some “goon” from minors to throw at other teams stars? Is that what MLB wants?
So how can you suspend a guy 1 game for “foul language” after he got drilled by a bean ball (Tim Anderson) and yet only give a bad reliever 2 games for intentionally throwing a ball a foot behind & over the head of a star player at the end of a game???
matt41265
I agree
matt41265
that hoskins is a tool
Bart Harley Jarvis
Matts,
Please see above. I believe you share a similar pathology with rust.
whynot 2
Cute, someone someone just took and intro psychology class
nymetsking
lol
Bart Harley Jarvis
“took and intro” – even cuter. Please spellcheck when trolling. And lol for your minion, nymetsking.
whynot 2
You got me, I don’t proof read my posts. You have exposed my deep dark secret.
a dawg
Please spare the psych class crap no one cares
Bart Harley Jarvis
Dong, obviously you cared enough to reply.
jk2me1310
this suspension is real dumb
GB85
So is throwing at someone’s head.
mrbrklyn
But he didn’t hit him and didn’t “throw at his head”. It is just Philedelphia Bluster from useless city full of BS. What is it that keeps Phili going? That it is close to NYC?
When you want to hit someone in the head, you throw __behind his head__ . and then you bean them. See Roger Clemens beaning of Mike Piazza.
youtube.com/watch?v=NFScJX1Sf_g
When the player leans back to avoid the pitch, they move into the pitch and get hit. Neither of Rhames pitches had any chance of hitting Hoskins. –ZERO
Furthmore, the Phillie announces should have been arrested for incitment. They are the lowest class of announcers in all of baseball
VonPurpleHayes
This is the most ridiculous post I ever read in my life.
Major League Baseball reviewed the incident and considered the the throws to be intentional. But yes. They had “zero” chance of hurting anyone. Uh huh.
bucketbrew35
“It is just Philedelphia Bluster from useless city full of BS. What is it that keeps Phili going? That it is close to NYC?”
Ah mrbrklyn, could you seriously embody NY trash any better? Nothing like the usual jackass with a superiority complex who thinks NY is the best thing since sliced bread. It’s so amazing that you live in a congested city that hates each other and literally lives on top of each other. It’s essentially a giant landfill mixed with people who pay a ridiculous cost of living to lead a miserable existence together. Have fun with that.
davidcoonce74
You mean when Clemens threw directly at Piazza’s head and gave him a concussion? That’s what you’re advocating for?
mrbrklyn
mrbrklyn.com/images/baseball_head.png
There was ZERO chance of being hit., especailly in the head.. unless he wants to get hit on purpose.
The brush back is tossed AT the hitter where he stands. When you want to HIT the batter you throw to where you expect him to go it (Behind the head or Behind the body)
mrbrklyn
mrbrklyn.com/images/baseball_head2.png
Now this second pitch, and the one that probably caused the suspension, was at the head, straight on with a rising fastball, that ended up about 6inches over Hoskins head. Again, on this pitch, there was zero chance of getting hit, unless Hoskins is a vegitable and can’t move. After watching his play of 1st base, maybe that is true.
When you want to bean a player you throw BEHIND them.
mrbrklyn
No – Clemens threw BEHIND Piazza’s head. Piazza’s natural reaction was to back out and that is resulted in the concussion.
When you want to bean someone, like Clemens did, you throw behind them.
SCHIN101
They already said he got suspended for the 1st pitch.
davidcoonce74
You should watch the footage; Rhames threw at Hoskins’ head….then did it again. I am amazed he wasn’t tossed immediately.
mrbrklyn
But he didn’t hit him and didn’t “throw at his head”. It is just Philedelphia Bluster from useless city full of BS. What is it that keeps Phili going? That it is close to NYC?
When you want to hit someone in the head, you throw __behind his head__ . and then you bean them. See Roger Clemens beaning of Mike Piazza.
link to youtube.com
When the player leans back to avoid the pitch, they move into the pitch and get hit. Neither of Rhames pitches had any chance of hitting Hoskins. –ZERO
Furthmore, the Phillie announces should have been arrested for incitment. They are the lowest class of announcers in all of baseball
beachguy3363
Now I understand why the city of New York and the State give us the most dumb and clueless politicians in the country… the voters up there are just as clueless!!
jk2me1310
I watched the game live. Rhames has zero control. there was nothing intentional about it.
jk2me1310
**Rhame
whynot 2
The guy is the 25th man on the roster for a reason, he as no control. He may have been trying to brush him back but combine that with no control and you get those fastballs all over the place. Doubtful he meant to throw at his head, but he wouldn’t be able to do it no matter how hard he tried.
YakAttack
Then he shouldn’t be allowed to jeopardize a player’s career if he has that little control.
jk2me1310
exactly. he’s trying to stay on the team. why would he throw at someone when they were already beating the Phillies handily?
SCHIN101
Maybe because a bunch of Mets were hit in the previous games and there was a lot of discussion on the radio about the Mets needing to throw at someone.
whynot 2
He just has very little control. He is up simply to give the Mets a fresh arm. He was in there for mop up duty essentially
VonPurpleHayes
He didn’t really have control issues before and after the Hoskins at bat. Those were near his head on purpose. He was trying to impress his team by defending their honor. 2 Mets had been hit previously. 1 to load the bases. The other to score a run. Those were clearly accidental, but Rhame wanted to send a message. He did. Hoskins sent another message the next night. Beef over.
whynot 2
In 3 innings this season he has 5 walks… that’s not a sign of control issues? In 44 career major league innings he has given up 20 walks… that’s not a sign of control issues?
He was in all likelihood trying to pitch inside and possibly send a message, but to claim he threw twice at his head is an exaggeration.
whyhayzee
The first thing that major league players do is not listen to the radio to figure out what they’re supposed to do next. Also, having the guy with no control throw at the opposition makes no sense. Taking a non-situation and turning it into something that can’t possibly end well is just not wise on either team’s part. Do you purposely throw wild pitches because the other team’s pitcher threw a bunch of wild pitches? It makes no sense. Neither does hitting the opposition only for the reason that your player got hit, when it wasn’t intentional.
a dawg
That’s baseball unfortunately no one has full control of every pitch they will every throw
davidcoonce74
And Kyler Murray just was picked #1 overall in the NFL draft, which means no way he’s going to play baseball for a living.
Roll
McDonalds has a new deluxe quarterpounder and bacon quarterpounder … yes completely unrelated but so is the post im replying to.
SCHIN101
Give it 3 years when they finally realize he’s only 5-10 and a bust.
a dawg
Didn’t stop Tebow from trying for the Mets
reflect
I thought teams were not allowed to add a 25th player while a player is serving a suspension?
batty
So then, if a team has 6 players suspended and they each begin serving their suspensions at the same time, you believed that team would have to play the next game with a roster of 19?
SCHIN101
You can’t. The author is totally wrong. CC Sabathia was on the Yankees roster and they played with a short bench when he started the season suspended. If 6 guys got suspended they would stagger the suspensions.
spinach
Batty got schooled. I forgot about the staggering thing but remember when it happened.
Jeff Todd
Yes I screwed this up. Fixing it.
batty
I was watching that game. Rhame is getting off light with just a 2 game suspension. Those were definitely 2 purpose pitches aimed at Hoskins’ head.
Dutch Vander Linde
If I was a pitcher on the Mets, I would’ve drill Hoskins just for pimpin that homerun.
whynot 2
syndergaard will have a fastball with his name on it
davidcoonce74
So you are arguing that throwing a pitch at 1000 MPH at a guys head is okay?
davidcoonce74
Sorry, 100 MPH
brucebochyisthemarlboroman
No no keep it at 1000 sounds a lot cooler.
whynot 2
Yes 1000 is much cooler! Also, syndergaard has much better control and who says it has to be near his head
mikeyank55
No he won’t. Noah is done with the team first approach. With all of the pressure on his shoulders now that deGrom is injured and ineffective, “Thor” has grown tired of the Mets lack of interest in extending him.
whynot 2
He told you that?
VonPurpleHayes
Why? Hoskins had a beef with Rhame. Hoskins showed him up. If Hoskins hit a homer off some other Met pitcher he wouldn’t have taunted. Someone threw two fastballs at his head. The beef is now over. Only the fans and media want to stir the pot. I highly doubt Syndergaard wants to defend the honor of a head-hunting reliever who will likely be DFAed before the Mets and Phillies meet again.
whynot 2
It’s nice to look at only one side of the equation when it helps your point. How about the Mets players that got initially hit? Did Rhame make a mistake trying to send a message, perhaps. Did Hoskins get him back? he did with the HR. Did Hoskins make things worse for himself by acting like a spoiled child slow walking it around the bases? Yes indeed he did. You obviously do not watch the Mets at all. For good or bad, syndergaard is the most likely to have taken offense at those actions.
VonPurpleHayes
I watch the Mets all the time. I live in Queens.
The Mets batters were hit in the pouring rain. The 1st batter loaded the bases. The next batter drove in a run. At the time it was a close game. Anyone assuming those plunks were intentional is a fool.
Hoskins was thrown at twice when the Mets had a 9-0 lead. Looked very intentional. Also the balls were near his head. Big difference here. Sometimes you have to stop being a fan. Even the Mets announcers didn’t like those pitches to Hoskins head.
davidcoonce74
One of the pitches was directly at Hoskins’ head
whynot 2
If you watch the Mets all the time then you know I am correct in stating that if anyone took offense it would have been syndergaard
VonPurpleHayes
Agreed, but like I say I don’t think Syndergaard did take offense. He has no reason to defend Rhame. The beef has been settled. Hoskins wasn’t taunting the Mets. He was taunting Rhame. Incident over, despite fans wanting more.
whynot 2
We shall see
The Instigator
I think there is really only one takeaway from all this. Jacob Rhame should not be in the big leagues…
PhanaticDuck26
another takeaway could be that these adult-looking men have the same mentality as children, seeming to think the only course of action after getting hit by a ball is to hit someone else with a ball. What makes it worse is that old farts like Keith Hernandez sit in the booth and lament about the good ‘ole days and the ‘unwritten rules’ of plunking people on purpose, yet when Hoskins has a retaliatory action that–get this–doesn’t actually involve inflicting physical harm on someone, they start crying about him showing up the pitcher who just threw at his head. These has-beens need to stop talking into microphones unless they are going to start trying to bring something positive to the game; no one gives a $h*! about what it was like in your day, grandpa.
whynot 2
Your overreacting is just too funny!
bucketbrew35
What do you expect davidcoonce74? A majority of them are Mets trolls and trash human beings. Not really all that surprising.
njbirdsfan
Pretty big talk for a fan base who chants for the Eagles at the Phils games at the first sign of adversity. How soon this year? July, June?
bucketbrew35
“Pretty big talk for a fan base who chants for the Eagles at the Phils games at the first sign of adversity. How soon this year? July, June?”
I can’t control the fanbase. But at least they have a recent Super Bowl title to boast about. Regardless, you route for a team that is second class in it’s own city. So you literally have no room to talk.
whynot 2
Do you see the irony of citing the super bowl win in your comment ?
DarkSide830
yes, Rhame has no control to speak of, but i find it hard to believe he accidentally threw twice over hoskins’s head. once may be a fluke accident, but twice? not buying it.
njbirdsfan
I love how the HBP of McNeil and Alonso gets completely glossed over. But I guess being hit on the hand and elbow don’t qualify as up and in apparently. And guess what…neither threw a toddler hissy fit.
VonPurpleHayes
McNeil was hit to load the bases. Alonso was hit and forced in a run. The game was close at the time. It was also pouring rain. If you took offense to those, you’re crazy. Clearly not intentional.
davidcoonce74
Those were legit HBPs; the Phils weren’t trying to lose. Rhame threw two pitches directly at a guy’s head
bmw04325
I remember when Utley broke Tejada’s leg. No suspension for that because it’s old school and playing the game right. Seems odd with the suspension but whatever, move on.
showman
What happens if the Mets DFA Rhame? Do they still have to play a man short? Curious on the rules here…
mrbrklyn
ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSKU9cc5PwE