Angels Retaliate Against Jake Marisnick For Collision With Jonathan Lucroy

The most absurd custom in baseball -- perhaps in any sport -- played out Tuesday night when the Los Angeles Angels retaliated against Jake Marisnick with a well placed pitch nine days after the Houston Astros centerfielder plowed into Angels catcher Jonathan Lucroy.

Even though the 'Stros were braced for retribution, manager A.J. Hinch criticized the response, which might have been avoided if not for another mindless MLB policy that allows players to delay a suspension long after an incident occurred while they appeal it.

The backstory: On the final day before the All-Star break, Marisnick was chugging toward home plate and ran smack-dab into Lucroy as the catcher awaited a throw. Marisnick contested the ultimate two-game suspension, claiming he tried to avoid a collision, though a rule passed in 2014 seemed to implicate him. Lucroy suffered a concussion and broken nose. He remains out, with a return in three weeks projected.

When the teams crossed paths again Tuesday in Anaheim, boos rained down on Marisnick. That is an acceptable part of the sport -- fans venting their displeasure orally.

This one is not: a pitch from Noe Ramirez striking Marisnick in the back, between the shoulder blades, during the sixth inning. It could have led to more trouble as benches emptied soon after.

Hinch hinted that the potentially dangerous give-and-take may not be over, with a suggestion that his team might answer back if Ramirez is not punished.

"We'll see if there's discipline," Hinch said about Ramirez. "And without discipline, there's not going to be any issue doing it the next time. So if retaliations are in, cool. We're well aware." The teams meet again on Wednesday night.

Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. put it more bluntly: "If they felt the need to defend their guy, that's fine. But I think the way that it was done was horses---."

Yet another preposterous aspect to this ritual is the offending party in the second act denying intent. Sure enough, Ramirez and Angels manager Brad Ausmus insisted the pitch just innocently got away.

Sure, it did -- landing squarely in the middle of the hitter's back.

For his part, Marisnick was among the coolest cats in the ballpark. He ignored harsh barbs from the crowd and even tried to be a peacemaker after being hit-by-pitch.

The day brought some delicious irony. Earlier Tuesday, the MLB Players Alumni Association announced the recipients of the Heart and Hustle Award for each team. Voted on by the retirees, it is bestowed on players "demonstrating a passion for the game of baseball and best embodying the values, spirit and traditions of the game."

The Astros' honoree: Jake Marisnick.