Did Dodgers SP Emmet Sheehan Switch Out Cam Devanney's First Big League Hit Ball And Toss The Pirates Dugout The New Game Ball On Purpose?

Oh no, Emmet Sheehan what are you doing? Sheehan was on the mound for LA last night when Cam Devanney of the Pirates, a 28 year-old rookie, got his first career hit. It's a cool story for Devanney since he's an older guy and has taken a little it to break through. He's probably thought about quitting baseball 1,000 times, probably thought his career was over, and it may be....but as of this week he was a major leaguer with a hit. 

Obviously that's a ball you'd want to hold onto and pass down or gift to someone like your dad or kids. Unless the pitcher seems to intentionally throw the wrong ball to the Pirates dugout when they ask for that first career hit ball. That's what happened last night when Sheehan was seemingly caught on camera switching out the first hit ball for a new one and throwing the wrong ball back to the Pirates dugout to get authenticated and given to Devanney. I mean it's right there, you can see him throw the new ball back after switching it around. Clear as day!

Right off the bat you think it's a douchebag thing to do, you don't mess around with a big leaguer's first career hit ball. We saw this with Pete Alonso and a Cardinals rookie a few years back where he threw a guy's first hit ball into the stands. Everyone jumped down Alonso's throat and rightfully so. He said it was an accident and it was over, that's the road that Sheehan is taking here saying that he didn't do it intentionally and will apologize to Devanney personally.

I don't know man, the video is pretty convincing but I can also see the surrounding circumstances factoring in. Its loud in there because the fans are pumped for the guy, Sheehan may not know he's looking for his first career hit, maybe first of the season but maybe that just wasn't something he saw in the scouting report. He's pissed he gave up a hit and liked the feel of the ball and figured he'd keep it. With how bad the video looks for him, that's the story I'm thinking he is going with. Maybe he was pissed and thought "fuck this guy, he's not getting his ball." Maybe he didn't who knows. His postgame comments do seem sincere and apologetic so maybe it is a bad mixup. I can't think of any reason why a Dodgers pitcher would randomly start beef with a Pirates 28 year-old rookie.

Now do I think it's he's just trying to cover for himself because now he realizes he knew what he was doing and is catching heat for it? Maybe. That video man, it's right there. Why else would the entire Pirates dugout be motioning for the ball. He said he didn't hear it but who knows, I'm kind of leaning towards it being intentional. Maybe he's just a salty dude?

It doesn't sound like they were able to track the ball down and figure out which one it is. I believe I read that the ball was kept in and thrown in the dirt after staying in. Then it was thrown in the dugout and who knows where it went from there. It sounds like Cam won't ever truly get that first hit ball back which is a bummer. Guy like him grinds his ass off from a school like Elon and makes it all the way up to the bigs and is playing against the fucking Dodgers. Awesome memory but if he can't get that ball it's a massive bummer. Sheehan is lucky Tommy Pham didn't find this out mid-game, he'd have beat the shit out of this kid. That first hit is a big time thing for these guys, I'm sure Sheehan had the same feeling towards it as a first strikeout ball. You'll never forget your first hit, especially if it's a story like Cam's is. 

PS. If he's lying about it all and did this just to be a hater than that's a massive loser move. Gigantic loser vibes.