Feud Between Mets, Rhys Hoskins Continued On Saturday

Rhys Hoskins is not exactly looked upon fondly in New York right now.

The former Phillie has been in the middle of two separate controversies in the Mets’ opening series of the 2024 season. The first of which unfolded in the eighth inning of Friday’s home opener.

After the said first incident, Hoskins found himself in controversy again in the top of the seventh of Saturday’s daytime matchup.

Hoskins stepped into the box against new Met Yohan Ramírez, about to take his fourth at-bat of the game after going for 3-for-3 with a home run and four RBI earlier in the game. Instead, Ramírez threw a 94 mph fastball behind Hoskins, and then was ejected from the game.

While the benches didn’t clear for a second-consecutive day, the drama between Hoskins and the Mets continued. Ramírez moved toward the plate after the pitch, seemingly covering the plate after the ball went to the backstop, and Hoskins, who didn’t engage, put his hands on his hips and had words for the Mets’ reliever.

Nothing else came from the incident, but the Brewers and Hoskins got the last laugh. The Mets were defeated 7-6 on Saturday, and Hoskins led the charge on offense, going 3-for-3 with a home run, four RBI, and a walk.

Still, the tension between Hoskins and the Mets is alive. Despite both Pat Murphy and Carlos Mendoza telling the media that Ramírez’s pitch wasn’t intentional, Hoskins had another perspective.

“Big leaguers don’t miss by eight feet,” Hoskins told the media.

Hoskins’ comment after the game insinuates that Ramírez’s pitch was intentional, despite his manager thinking otherwise. Ramírez, however, refuted this after the game, claiming he didn’t have a grip on the pitch.

“I was trying to throw my sinker inside, and sometimes when I try to get it too in the ball just runs,” Ramírez said through a translator. “(And) with this type of weather, I don’t have the grip I’m accustomed to having.”

It’s understandable why Hoskins thought the pitch was intentional after Friday’s scuffle. In the eighth inning of the home opener, Hoskins slid hard and late into Jeff McNeil, folding his leg, and causing both benches to clear. No fights broke out, but McNeil was seen on the field showing his extreme displeasure.

What Happens Now?

With another day of theatrics between the Mets and Hoskins, the same question arises for Sunday’s game from Friday; what now?

Is the situation finally settled? Or will we see the Mets try to take another run at Hoskins.

Another outcome is seemingly the more realistic of the two. Nothing happens. The Mets claimed the pitch wasn’t intentional, and have proof to back it up. They pitched to Hoskins three times before the incident in the top of the seventh, and the pitch that went toward Hoskins was a sinker that missed the zone badly.

Regardless of what happens, the Mets should only be focused on one outcome; winning. The team has dropped their first two games of the 2024 season, recording one hit in Friday’s loss and then allowing seven runs in Saturday’s loss.

The team needs to salvage the series and take the final game against the Brewers on Sunday. Tylor Megill gets the start for the Mets, and hopefully, he’ll have better luck against Hoskins.