Challenge of Overturned Call Voids 30-Second Limit

With managers subject to a 30-second time limit to challenge after the conclusion of play, why did Crew Chief/2B Umpire Sam Holbrook honor Cardinals manager Mike Shildt's replay request a minute later? Let's review the exception to this rule: The overturned call false double manager's challenge.

Play: With one out and two on (R1, R2) in the top of the 6th inning of Wednesday's Nationals-Cardinals game, Nationals batter Howie Kendrick hit a ground ball to Cardinals third baseman Tommy Edman, who threw to second baseman Kolten Wong (R1 Juan Soto out at second), onto first base as Kendrick arrived (ruled out for an inning-ending double play).

Background: Earlier this month, Cubs skipper Joe Maddon was shut down by Paul Emmel when he attempted to challenge a time play in Chicago after Mariners Manager Scott Servais' unsuccessful challenge of an out call at second base. At the time, we wrote that Maddon failed to notify the umpires of his challenge within 30 seconds after the conclusion of play, and this is why he was denied.
Related Post: Joe Maddon's Untimely Challenge Costs Cubs (9/4/19).

Washington requests a Replay Review.

So why was Shildt's seemingly-tardy request honored when Joe's wasn't? The following analysis bookends the exception-to-rule example posed during the Chicago play.

WAS & STL Challenge: The answer is the overturned call exception to the 30-second rule. With the top of the 6th inning over due to St. Louis' double play, Shildt had no reason to challenge any aspect of the play. Washington, however, did challenge the play at first base regarding Kendrick, resulting in an overturned call.

With the call in the process of being overturned from out to safe, the inning continued (two outs as opposed to three), meaning that Shildt now had reason to review Soto's slide at second base on the basis of potential slide rule interference, which he explained to HP Umpire John Tumpane, who alerted his crew chief.

Shildt questions the slide violation no-call.

The Replay Review regulations, in place since 2014, allow a delayed challenge only if a call is overturned, for the challenge consideration period for the revised call technically doesn't begin until the call is actually overturned. So in this case, Shildt's challenge was legal and timely because the Kendrick play at first base was overturned.

Had—for instance—there been zero outs in the inning and no runner on second base prior to the play (0 outs, R1 only), Shildt's challenge would still be deemed timely in the event of an overturned call (since, again he'd have no reason to challenge for slide interference if it was called a double play).

Can MLB mic up the Crew Chief or UIC?

If, like Maddon in Chicago, the play in St. Louis (assume 0 outs, R1 and R2) was confirmed or if the outcome was call stands, Shildt's challenge would be deemed untimely if not filed within 30 seconds or prior to Holbrook speaking to New York via the headsets. The rationale is that the call on the field should be treated as that basis for decision up and until the point at which that call is changed (upon which new considerations may be made).

Finally, the Cardinals TV broadcast said what may of us were thinking in the midst of the confusing scene: MLB umpires providing audio explanations to fans via the stadium public address a la NFL or NHL referee microphones could be very useful and clear up potential rules miscommunications that occur when fans and broadcasters attempt to sort through odd situations on their own. In January 2017, Tmac wrote as bullet point number on a how to fix instant replay article: Give the Crew Chief a microphone. Still waiting...
Related Post: Tmac's Teachable Moments - Let's Fix Replay (1/19/17).

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Cards challenge slide INT rule following OT call to extend t6 (CCS)