Cardinals' hat drama with umpire takes new surprising turn

DENVER — One day later, the drama surrounding the St. Louis Cardinals and umpire Doug Eddings didn't cool down at Coors Field. In fact, it may have heated up with an unexpected twist.

Less than 24 hours after manager Oliver Marmol was ejected after umpire Doug Eddings told his rookie pitcher, Hancel Rincon, to straighten his hat on the mound, a Colorado Rockies player who was unknowingly brought into the furor around the moment denied he played a role in the incident.

Rockies' Hunter Goodman wants no part of Cardinals-Doug Eddings umpiring drama

In reports after the game, Colorado All-Star catcher Hunter Goodman, who was at the plate during the emotion-filled inning, was identified as the reason Eddings told Rincon to straighten his hat. However, on Saturday, Goodman denied the accusation.

“I never once mentioned the hat,” Goodman told MLB.com. “It doesn’t matter who’s pitching. I don’t care how they wear the hat. I’m trying to find out where the ball is coming out, and I’m trying to worry about what I’m doing in the box. I’m not worried about how his hat looks."

As MLB.com pointed out just before first pitch of Saturday's Rockies-Cardinals game, "Video from the game confirms that the exchange between Eddings, (St. Louis catcher Leo) Bernal, and Rincon did not take place during Goodman’s at-bat."

Despite being accused of being the instigator, Goodman was not actually at the plate when the incident occurred. He has stepped into the batter's box at the start of the inning, lining out against Rincon, who was making his MLB debut. 

Rincon would then give up a triple to TJ Rumfield, uncork a wild pitch that scored Rumfield and surrender an inside-the-park home run to Cole Carrigg to pull the Rockies within 4-3. 

Carrigg was actually at the plate when Rincon was told to straighten his hat, as you can see in the video below. The video seems to show Eddings saying something to Bernal before Rincon straightened his hat.