so Friday the umpire made up his own rules:
The Cardinals began the sixth inning with a three-run lead and right-hander Hancel Rincon taking the mound for his major-league debut.
He did so with his hat tilted toward the left
During the first at-bat of Rincon’s career, Eddings instructed him to straighten the navy blue road cap. Both the Cardinals and the umpire agreed that he gave a “directive,” and not a suggestion
He said Rockies batter Hunter Goodman brought the hat’s tilt to his attention.
“The batter said, ‘Hey, can he wear his hat like that?’” Eddings said. “I really didn’t know. It was really, really crooked. So I asked the catcher to tell him to straighten his hat out and the pitcher did.”
Eddings said he’s let other pitchers, and he named Hall of Famer CC Sabathia, wear a tilted cap, and he was asked about that contrast and what the rule was regarding the angle of the cap.
“I guess it’s an unwritten rule,” the crew chief said, eventually noting how a reporter wore his hat and tying the hat to rules regarding items that distract the batter. “You’ve got to wear your uniform. Your hat is straight. It’s not crooked. They can’t wear it backward like a catcher. If it’s a distraction like anything on the field, like a glove or anything, and someone makes you aware of it, you address that.”
so you’ve let other pitchers wear their cap like that, and now all of a sudden it’s an issue? why now?
and then missed a play at the plate which the Cards could not challenge
it seems obvious this was an attempt by Rockies hitter to disrupt rookie pitcher