In a twist to a saga that riled the baseball world, Colorado Rockies catcher Hunter Goodman on Saturday denied he said anything to umpire Doug Eddings about St. Louis Cardinals reliever Hancel Rincon\u2019s cap, comments that came one day after the hat and its tilt were at the center of a confrontation between Cardinals manager Oli Marmol and Eddings.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never once mentioned the hat,\u201d Goodman told reporters in Denver, according to MLB.com<\/a>. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter who\u2019s pitching. I don\u2019t care how they wear the hat. I\u2019m trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I\u2019m trying to worry about what I\u2019m doing in the box. I\u2019m not worried about how his hat looks.\u201d<\/p>\n The scene unfolded in the sixth inning Friday night, when Rincon was making his MLB debut. He had a 2-0 count against Cole Carrigg with one out when Eddings instructed Cardinals catcher Leo Bernal, also a rookie, to tell Rincon to straighten his hat. Later in the inning, an irate Marmol approached Eddings and was tossed.<\/p>\n Home plate umpire Doug Eddings called time to tell Hancel Rincon to fix his hat.<\/p>\n Oli Marmol was later ejected after sticking up for Rincon, who was making his MLB debut. pic.twitter.com\/UXY2zEA7JE<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 5, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Goodman, who had come to the plate two batters earlier, was linked to the story in reports afterward, which indicated the catcher had pointed out the tilt of Rincon\u2019s hat. But reports on Saturday were a bit murkier. MLB.com, for example, noted that Eddings did not use a batter\u2019s name in his comments<\/a>. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported: \u201cEddings\u2019 explanation suggested this happened as Rincon began the inning and faced his first batter, the Rockies\u2019 Hunter Goodman.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe batter said, \u2018Hey, can he wear his hat like that?\u2019\u201d Eddings said Friday, according to the Post-Dispatch<\/a>. \u201cI really didn\u2019t know, but it was really, really crooked. I asked the catcher to tell him to straighten his hat out, and the pitcher did.\u201d<\/p>\n On Saturday, Goodman said he has taken heat because he was pulled into the dispute.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve been getting online stuff about me that I didn\u2019t appreciate for something I didn\u2019t say,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Marmol, whom Eddings ejected after he adjusted his cap while arguing with him on the field, told reporters that he thought Eddings\u2019 actions were \u201cembarrassing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI thought it was poorly handled,\u201d Marmol said Friday night, \u201cand we\u2019ll see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n The Major League Baseball Players Association was in touch with the players involved and with the commissioner\u2019s office about the situation, another person close to the situation said Saturday. When asked for comment, an MLB spokesman pointed The Athletic to Eddings\u2019 comments to reporters following Friday\u2019s game. A message to the MLB Umpires Association went unanswered. No discipline for either Marmol or Eddings was announced.<\/p>\n In Denver, Eddings appeared to attempt making things right. After the top of the first, the Cardinals\u2019 broadcast captured footage of St. Louis relievers, heading to the bullpen for Saturday\u2019s game. Eddings, who was working third base, stopped Rincon and appeared to have a friendly exchange with the reliever.<\/p>\n Still, the ejection and the outrage about Rincon\u2019s hat simmered online and found its way onto the field. Some Cardinals players were also spotted in their dugout ahead of the game sporting crooked caps, and in one instance incorporated a slight hat tilting motion into their post-hit celebration.<\/p>\n Later in the game, Rincon made his second big league appearance, a one-plus inning stint in which he got knocked around for four runs on four hits, the last one leading to the Rockies\u2019 seventh run, which meant free tacos for all in attendance. This time, the umpires allowed him to pitch with his cap tilted.<\/p>\n Some Cardinals players are wearing their hats crooked todaypic.twitter.com\/jJZvDiB58t<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Underdog MLB (@UnderdogMLB) September 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Of course, had Eddings chosen a similar path the night before, there wouldn\u2019t have been such backlash, with even Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer Chipper Jones and former All-Star center fielder Mike Cameron weighing in via posts on X.<\/p>\n \u201cAhhhh Doug Eddings\u2026,\u201d Jones wrote. \u201cI believe I addressed his behavior and attitude a while back. Not surprising at all!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry,\u201d Cameron wrote, \u201cthere was no need for Doug Eddings\u2019 commentary on a rookie and his cap\u2026 he was once a rookie and this isn\u2019t his debut\u2026 if he wants to hold a standard it should be his own game.\u201d<\/p>\n Tilted hat watch for the Cards tonight \ud83e\udde2\ud83d\udd25 pic.twitter.com\/7N03FsNY8D<\/a><\/p>\n