In a heated matchup between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Milwaukee Brewers, tensions flared as a controversial slide by Phillies' Rhys Hoskins led to a confrontation with the Mets' Jeff McNeil. The incident took place during Hoskins' first game with the Brewers, but both players were no strangers to each other, having a history dating back to Hoskins' time with the Phillies.

According to McNeil, their history extends beyond the slow trot of a home run and includes "questionable slides at second base." McNeil expressed his displeasure with past slides from Hoskins, stating that some were "definitely not OK." The Mets player, however, clarified that he wasn't attempting to turn a double play during the recent incident but was just trying to catch the ball. McNeil felt that there was no need for Hoskins to break up the play in such a manner.

Hoskins defended his slide, claiming that he was simply trying to keep the inning alive and prevent a potential double play. He mentioned that he didn't think much of McNeil's reaction and that he was just playing the game hard and the right way. Hoskins suspected that there might be an underlying issue between him and McNeil stemming from their previous matchups as rivals in Mets versus Phillies games.

The clash between the two players resulted in Hoskins making contact with McNeil's leg, causing frustration from McNeil due to the lateness of the slide and getting spiked. The slide, deemed to be safe by MLB, also drew the support of Mets' shortstop Francisco Lindor, who agreed that it was a little late. Lindor expressed solidarity with McNeil's reaction in the incident.

The altercation has raised questions about sliding rules in the MLB. After a series of injuries in the 2015 season caused by sliding baserunners, the league implemented amendments to promote player safety. Bona fide slides are now required, meaning the runner must make contact with the ground before reaching the base, be able to touch the base with a hand or foot, remain on the base after the slide (except at home plate), and avoid changing their path to initiate contact with a fielder.

McNeil admitted to being confused about the sliding rules and emphasized the importance of player safety. He categorized slides into dirty, clean, and in-between, but refrained from categorizing Hoskins' slide, stating that it was a legal slide according to the rules.

Both players hope that the incident doesn't escalate into further retaliation, with McNeil stating that his focus is on winning the series. The Brewers ended up winning the game 5-1, but the controversy surrounding the slide and ensuing altercation has become a topic of discussion in the baseball community.

As the MLB continues to prioritize player safety, incidents like these shed light on the importance of clear guidelines for sliding into bases. It remains to be seen if any further actions or discussions will arise from this latest clash between players with a shared history and intense rivalry.