None of us should be naïve enough to believe that there wasn’t at least some underlying motive at play here. Yohan Ramirez’s errant throw over Rhys Hoskins’ head during Saturday’s game between the New York Mets and Milwaukee Brewers appeared to be a continuation of the tension from the previous day.
Ramirez, known for hitting 11 batters last season in just 38.1 innings, has a reputation for being somewhat erratic. Making his first regular season appearance for a new team naturally comes with nerves. Was this intentional? The Mets, and even Brewers manager Pat Murphy, seem to deny it.
Life presents many curious coincidences that prompt us to ponder. Consider the fact that both Mets World Series MVPs wore the number 22. How did the 2000 Mets end up with two pitchers named Bobby Jones in the same year? Then there’s the peculiar case of Michael Peterson finding two women he knew deceased at the bottom of staircases under mysterious circumstances. The trial of Yohan Ramirez must acknowledge that sometimes events may appear connected, but it’s merely a glitch in the simulation we call life.
Maintaining plausible deniability is crucial whenever someone is accused of intentionally hitting a batter with a baseball. Ramirez stuck to his story in hopes of avoiding suspension.
Whether we choose to believe Ramirez’s account or not is open to debate. Given our limited familiarity with his habits and personality, it’s challenging to interpret the situation beyond the evidence at hand.
Considering the strong criticism, particularly from figures like Ron Darling, of the Mets’ actions toward Hoskins late in the game, it would seem completely incongruent if Ramirez’s action was indeed intentional. Some might even find it embarrassing. The Mets delayed too long in making Hoskins uncomfortable, especially considering his significant impact with the bat.
Motive, opportunity, and capability were all present for Ramirez to target Hoskins. These are essential considerations in any trial, but the crucial distinction here is that Ramirez didn’t actually execute the hit by pitch. Was it an attempted assault? If MLB starts suspending players for questionable attempts like this, and even the opposing team’s manager sides with the defendant, it could severely limit effective pitching in the sport.
Ramirez is not entirely innocent, but he’s also far from being proven guilty. There might have been some suspicious behavior, nervous witnesses, and circumstantial evidence surrounding that pitch, but it falls short of conclusive proof.