Mike Matheny irked that umpires didn’t use replay as intended on call against Royals
There was a bit of confusion during the fifth inning of the Royals’ 6-2 loss to the Giants on Monday night.
Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski hit a laser off the right-field wall that first-base umpire Adam Hamari ruled was a foul ball. As he rounded the bases on the way to third, Yastrzemski was making a case that the ball had hit the foul line.
The umpires huddled, and although the initial call was a foul ball, crew chief Jerry Layne said, “Kansas City is challenging the ball was fair.”
Huh?
Well, the umpires changed their initial call, so Layne should have said, “The Royals are challenging the call that the ball was fair.”
Royals manager Mike Matheny wasn’t pleased the original call was overturned and how the umpires came to their conclusion without first consulting replay.
“The explanation is that multiple people on the field saw it differently, so they didn’t even use the challenge,” Matheny told reporters after the game in an interview on Bally Sports Kansas City. “But what’s the purpose of having replay if we’re not using the challenge if someone sees something on the field?
“So, frustrating. You have to have clear and convincing (evidence) after that. On those close calls, the call on the field should have precedent and use the replay system for what it’s for.”
Matheny didn’t mention it, but it was odd that the first-base umpire, who would have the best view of where the ball landed, was overruled by another umpire.
Ah, well. the good news for the Royals is Yastrzemski had to go back to second base and the Giants didn’t score in the inning.
Here is how it went down.
