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    Marmol on Mets-Cardinals Brawl: I Take Exception When You 'Jeopardize' Someone's Life

    Timothy Rapp@@TRappaRTFeatured Columnist IVApril 27, 2022

    St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado (28) scuffles with New York Mets catcher Tomas Nido as home plate umpire Jeremie Rehak, center, watches during the eighth inning of a baseball game Wednesday, April 27, 2022, in St. Louis. Arenado was ejected from the game. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
    AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

    The St. Louis Cardinals and New York Mets engaged in a benches-clearing scuffle in the eighth inning of St. Louis' 10-5 win on Wednesday after Yoan Lopez threw up and in to Nolan Arenado.

    B/R Walk-Off @BRWalkoff

    Benches and bullpens clear in St. Louis after a pitch went up-and-in to Nolan Arenado 😳<br><br>(via <a href="https://twitter.com/BallySportsMW?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BallySportsMW</a>) <a href="https://t.co/BEdT8KnOsI">pic.twitter.com/BEdT8KnOsI</a>

    After the game, Cardinals manager Oli Marmol was not pleased with the pitch:

    SNY @SNYtv

    Cardinals Manager Oli Marmol said he "took exception" to how the Mets threw up and in to Nolan Arenado<br><br>"When you come up top like that and jeopardize someone's career and life, yeah I take exception to that" <a href="https://t.co/MRI2QOfeRf">pic.twitter.com/MRI2QOfeRf</a>

    "I didn't love it. At all," he said of the pitch. "... I don't think anyone in the big leagues appreciates getting thrown up top. Nolan has every right to react the way he did and go after him, and we'll protect that."

    Arenado told reporters after the game that he didn't like Lopez pitching him tight.

    "I don't know how close it was. It just felt close. It was just high," he said. "I'm not saying he's trying to throw it up there. It's just the ball got away, but that's the problem with that stuff."

    During the fracas, Cardinals first-base coach Stubby Clapp tackled Mets first baseman Pete Alonso. Marmol told reporters he was fine with that decision:

    SNY @SNYtv

    Oli Marmol said he had "no issue" with how Stubby Clapp tackled Pete Alonso during the benches-clearing incident<br><br>"I'm okay with it" <a href="https://t.co/TWDhdjy8sJ">pic.twitter.com/TWDhdjy8sJ</a>

    Marmol on Mets-Cardinals Brawl: I Take Exception When You 'Jeopardize' Someone's Life
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    Alonso had his own take on the situation.

    "It's something that started for no reason," he told reporters. "... I know it's a five-run ballgame, but we're trying to come back. To me, the whole thing didn't even make sense."

    Anthony DiComo @AnthonyDiComo

    🎥 Pete Alonso minces no words regarding today's altercation. "If I wanted to put somebody in the hospital, I easily could." Says he was simply protecting his teammates when he was thrown to the ground: <a href="https://t.co/iPTlLr5SiL">pic.twitter.com/iPTlLr5SiL</a>

    "I got pulled from behind," he added of being tackled. "Actually Genesis Cabrera grabbed me by the back of the collar and then he just ripped down, and then the coach just kinda jumped on me. I thought that was kinda cheap, going from behind. If you wanna hold me back, if you wanna restrain me, go at me like a man."

    Mets manager Buck Showalter wasn't thrilled with the ordeal either:

    SNY @SNYtv

    Does Buck Showalter think Nolan Arenado's reaction was out of line?<br><br>"I know our player got hit in the head and went to first base" <a href="https://t.co/E8W0XhW1N0">pic.twitter.com/E8W0XhW1N0</a>

    Both Clapp and Arenado were ejected from the game after the confrontation. Lopez remained in the contest.

    The Mets had been hit by 18 pitches coming into Wednesday's game and have been vocal about their frustrations, so Arenado and the Cardinals clearly felt like Lopez's buzzing pitch was a retaliatory message. In Tuesday's game between the teams, three Mets and two Cardinals were hit by pitches, including Alonso in the head.

    Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), "Lopez was high-fived by several teammates when he returned to the dugout after the inning," perhaps backing up St. Louis' assumption that he purposefully went high on Arenado.