Now that some time has passed, I am not campaigning for Ramos to be sent to the minors. However, I do believe he lost it to his emotions in this game and that cannot be allowed to continue. Frankly, the first time I saw the pitch (watching video with no sound), I thought that the pitch just got away from him. It would not be a big deal in my opinion expect for two things. First, Mac seemed to become unhinged. I still don't understand why he was so upset with the umps. They didn't throw the pitch over Cabrera's head. Second, Ramos seemed to clearly overthrow the rest of the at bat ending with the walk. The walk turned into the difference. Had Ramos settled down and retired that batter, I think he holds the game at 2-2 and gives the Phillies a chance. We can never know what might have happened just as we cannot know what would have happened if Bowa had not removed Ramos after the strikeout for out #2. Of course, we also cannot know if Mac would have made the same pitching change. The book is fine, when it works, but without a reliable lefthanded reliever, I think at the present time, most of the righthanded relievers have a better chance against any hitter, right or left handed.
One additional consequence of Ramos' action is that I now will likely always remember the walk off home run he gave up late last September to Cabrera. Frankly, I had pretty much forgotten it. I am pretty old school in most things, but the old disrespect the game thing about bat flips or such is pretty much the way it was when I first started following the Phillies, some 65 plus years ago. The game has evolved and our society has changed. Cabrera hit a walk off home run in a game that probably put the Mets in the post season. His reaction was what is expected today and what most Phillies might do and we all would be jumping for joy with him if it was putting the Phillies in the post season. Again, just my two cents, but Ramos should have used that memory to fire himself up to get Cabrera OUT. Instead, what he did just didn't help anyone, himself or the team. He lost the game, Mac got ejected, and now his walk off home run from last year has now again been brought to the attention of baseball fans around the world. The Phillies were in first place before that pitch and now, a little more than 24 hours later, they are in 4th place. OK, SSS, but every win/loss is important. Don't do dumb things. Of course, the game tonight (Tuesday, Harvey vs. Buchholz) was a reach regardless, but a win last night and they would still be 4-4 and ahead of the Mets.
I hope they can salvaged the final game of the series with the Mets.
