Instant replay confirmed 2B Umpire Mark Ripperger's out call in the bottom of the 8th inning of the Red Sox-Cardinals game. With one out and two on, Cardinals batter Stephen Piscotty hit a 3-2 pitch from Red Sox pitcher Noe Ramirez back to Ramirez, who threw to second baseman Heiker Meneses to first baseman Travis Shaw for an originally ruled double play. Upon instant replay review as the result of a challenge by Cardinals Manger Mike Matheny, Ripperger's ruling that Meneses caught the ball and stepped on second base prior to Cardinals baserunner R1 Joey Butler's arrival was upheld, the call was correct. At the time of the instant replay review, the Cardinals were leading, 8-4. The Cardinals ultimately won the contest, 8-6.
This is the 5th instant replay review of 2014 Spring Training.
This is Mark Ripperger (90)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
This is Crew Chief Jerry Meals (41)'s 1st instant replay challenge/review of Spring Training.
Umpires are now 5/5 (100% Accuracy) in Instant Replay Reviews during 2014 MLB Spring Training.
Wrap:
St. Louis Cardinals vs. Boston Red Sox (Grapefruit League Spring Training), 3/5/14
Video:
Call upheld; Butler ruled out after replay review (STL)
I thought force plays at second were not reviewable. Do I have bad information?
ReplyDeleteNeighborhood plays are not reviewable. Because there is a question as to the accuracy of the throw (e.g., did the pitcher's throw pull his second baseman off the base), this is not a neighborhood play as neighborhood plays assume (1) throw accuracy and (2) voluntary disengagement.
ReplyDeleteThis was simply a review of asking if the runner beat the throw. Nothing to do with pulling off the bag early. That's the difference.
ReplyDeleteThis also gets to my other question that I posted on one of the other threads. Is there anything, other than an ejection, to prevent managers from coming out from the seventh inning on and pressuring umpires to look at every single slightly close call?
ReplyDeleteFrom the looks of it, all a manager has to do is ask for a review on any close call that doesn't go his way from the 7th inning on. I assume it's up to the CC if they want to review. If this is the case, it's more like unlimited challenges from the 7th inning on.
ReplyDeleteYeah, exactly my thoughts. And I pity the first crew chief to say "no, we can't do unlimited challenges after the sixth inning" on a call that happened to be incorrect. He will be absolutely crucified in the media. Which then leaves the default position that every little thing will be reviewed after the sixth inning. I just feel like, if this scenario comes true, that this is going to be a kink that is going to need some serious reworking.
ReplyDeleteI think there's a piece that the managers will not act like youth baseball managers and nitpick…BUT if the regular season is anything like Spring Training it seems like they will go check the replay since they have access to the tool. I think the media storm will come on plays that umpires don't review that they might miss. It's a brave new world out there. I think they're all embracing the change (or so it seems). Umpires are 5/5 right now and I expect that now people will see what we've always believed, that the professional players and professional umpires are at the MLB level for a reason.
ReplyDeleteThis whole "clear and convincing evidence" standard for video replay is going to make it tough to overturn calls that are as close as this one. Fair/foul should be easy - it hit the line or not, chalk flew or it went to the dirt, but some of these time issues are a bit more complex.
ReplyDelete