Archive · 5 Sep 2026
Oliver Marmol Ejected After Hat Dispute During Cardinals’ Win
Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon was playing in his first major-league game.
During the game, umpire Doug Eddings told him to straighten his hat.
Manager Oliver Marmol argued with the umpire and was ejected.
Marmol thought the instruction was unnecessary and too forceful.
Eddings said it was an unwritten baseball rule about hats becoming distracting.
Rincon said he did not know why he was told to change his hat.
He also said the request did not bother him.
Colorado scored several runs during the inning after the discussion.
St. Louis still won 7-6 after Ivan Herrera hit a long home run in the ninth inning.
Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol was ejected in the sixth inning after arguing with home-plate umpire Doug Eddings.
The dispute began when Eddings told rookie reliever Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat during his major-league debut.
Marmol called the instruction a “power-hungry move,” while Eddings described it as an unwritten rule involving potential distractions.
Rincon said the instruction did not affect him, though his inning continued with a triple, an inside-the-park homer and a single.
St. Louis defeated Colorado 7-6, with Ivan Herrera hitting a 430-foot ninth-inning homer to seal the victory.
- Who
- St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon and home-plate umpire Doug Eddings were central to the dispute.
- What
- Marmol was ejected after arguing over Eddings’ instruction that Rincon straighten his hat.
- When
- During the sixth inning of the Cardinals’ series opener against Colorado.
- Where
- In a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Colorado Rockies; the venue is not specified.
- Why
- Eddings said the hat could be a distraction and involved an unwritten rule; Marmol objected to the instruction.
Marmol’s View
Eddings’ View
Whether the hat instruction was appropriate
Marmol’s View
Marmol said Eddings singled out the rookie unnecessarily and called the decision a “power-hungry move,” noting that other players had worn their hats more tilted.
Eddings’ View
Eddings said the instruction did not involve a written rule but reflected an unwritten expectation that caps should not be worn backward or become a distraction.
Effect on Rincon
Marmol’s View
Marmol objected to the umpire taking control of how his rookie pitcher wore his hat during the appearance.
Eddings’ View
Rincon did not challenge the instruction and said it did not pull him off his game.
- Final score
- St. Louis Cardinals 7, Colorado Rockies 6
- Manager ejection
- Oliver Marmol was ejected in the sixth inning, his fourth ejection of the season.
- Umpire
- Doug Eddings, the home-plate umpire, instructed Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat.
- Rincon’s debut
- The 24-year-old right-hander entered from Triple-A Memphis days after being called up.
- Rincon’s inning
- He retired Hunter Goodman before Colorado produced a triple, an inside-the-park home run and a single.
- Winning play
- Ivan Herrera hit a 430-foot home run in the ninth inning.