In the eighth inning of Friday’s game, Jeff McNeil found himself in a tight spot when Brett Baty’s throw from third base was low, leaving him with little time to execute a double play against Willy Adames running to first base. Rhys Hoskins, however, approached the second base at full throttle, and slid aggressively, knocking McNeil down and causing him to lose grip of the ball.
McNeil, frustrated by what he deemed an unnecessary or even dirty play, confronted Hoskins immediately. This led to a heated exchange, prompting both teams to clear their benches and bullpens. However, the confrontation remained verbal, and the umpires swiftly restored order, with the Brewers eventually securing a 3-1 win over the Mets.
Hoskins defended his slide, explaining that he was simply trying to prevent the Mets from making a double play and didn’t intend to cause harm. Although McNeil and other Mets players believed the slide was late and questionable, it ultimately fell within the bounds of MLB’s slide rule.
The incident stirred emotions due to the history between the Mets and Hoskins, particularly referencing a previous altercation involving Jacob Rhame throwing near Hoskins’ head in 2019. Despite the tension, both sides expressed differing opinions on the play, with the Brewers’ manager viewing it as “good, hard-nosed baseball.”
McNeil, in particular, was surprised by the slide considering Hoskins had recently returned from a torn ACL injury. However, Hoskins assured that he was fine physically and attributed the confrontation to the intensity of the game rather than any ill intent.
Overall, while the slide was deemed legal by the league’s standards, it sparked debate and highlighted the fine line between aggressive play and unsportsmanlike conduct on the field.
