The top of the eighth inning in Tuesday’s National League Wild Card Game ended in a double play that was controversial to say the least.
With a man on first, Colorado Rockies second baseman DJ LeMahieu hit a grounder to his opposite number, Daniel Murphy. Murphy had some issues getting the ball out of his glove, but eventually made the throw to shortstop Javier Baez at second, who caught the ball to retire runner Drew Butera and threw on to first to get LeMahieu.
While the play at first was not disputed, it was immediately pretty clear that Butera was safe at second.
@MLB @MLBUA Please explain to me how this runner is out. He's clearly safe, and it's not even close. How is that upheld on review???
Terrible, terrible, terrible call. #COLvsCHC #MLB #Rockies pic.twitter.com/L24upZRZ9E
— DealMeIn (@303Petruszynski) October 3, 2018
Only, it didn’t work that way. The play was reviewed and the original call was upheld.
Once again: it's time for MLB to make umpires explain their calls to crowd and fans at home like the NHL and NFL requires its refs to do. Was that just staying with the call on the field? Or visual evidence of an out. It matters.
Make the umps talk to us.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) October 3, 2018
Indeed, some explanation would have been nice on this one. It’s possble that Butera’s foot was blocked by Baez’s. But alas, we’re just left to speculate.
Some clarity would have been helpful.