Mets reliever Jacob Rhame has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount by Major League Baseball for throwing a pitch that sailed behind Rhys Hoskins of the Phillies on Tuesday night.

Here is the statement from MLB, which was released by Chief Baseball Officer Joe Torre.

"New York Mets pitcher Jacob Rhame has received a two-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head of Rhys Hoskins of the Philadelphia Phillies during the top of the ninth inning of Tuesday night's game at Citi Field. Unless appealed, the suspension of Rhame is scheduled to begin on Friday, when the Mets are to host the Milwaukee Brewers. If Rhame elects to file an appeal, then the discipline issued to him will be held in abeyance until the process is complete."

With the Mets leading, 9-0, with two outs in the ninth inning on Tuesday night, a pitch from Rhame sailed high and behind Hoskins, who glared out at the mound. Hoskins eventually walked and had to be calmed down by Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud while walking to first base.

After the game, Rhame denied throwing at Hoskins intentionally. And on Wednesday, Hoskins got his "revenge" when he hit a two-run homer off Rhame and jogged around the bases slower than Bartolo Colon -- literally.

Danny Abriano, SNY.tv | Twitter |

MLB suspending Rhame for two games is absurd for three reasons.

1. They can't prove intent. And despite that fact, it says in their statement that Rhame was suspended for "intentionally throwing a pitch in the area of the head" of Hoskins.

2. There were no warnings made before the pitch from Rhame sailed behind Hoskins, meaning MLB was not policing anything at the time the pitch was thrown.

3. If MLB deemed the pitch intentional (even though they can't prove it, even though Rhame denied it, and even though no warnings had been issued), why wasn't the suspension issued on Wednesday morning? Why wait until Thursday night, nearly 48 hours after the pitch?

My opinion at the time of the pitch was that Rhame intended to throw up and in and the pitch sailed on him. If that's the case, he needs to get his control in order but did not have malicious intent.

And if I'm wrong and Rhame did have malicious intent -- if he was trying to hit an opposing player in the head -- wouldn't he deserve much more than a two-game suspension?

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