Philadelphia Baseball History

Controversial plays happen, particularly in the World Series.  Not all of them are as clear-cut as the blown call in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 6 of the 1985 World Series, where Royals Jorge Orta was called safe at first.  Had replay review existed back then, Orta would have been called out, and the Cardinals would have captured another World Championship.  Instead, the Royals staged a comeback in that inning, and then took game 7 to win their first World Championship. But other plays are not so clear-cut, and spark debate among sports fans for decades.  Had replay review existed, would it have changed the outcome of the entire World Series?  Some of those plays, though controversial at the time, have faded into the background of baseball history. One such play occurred in game 5 of the 1980 World Series.  Rookie phenom, and Pitcher of the Month for September, Marty Bystrom took the mound against the Royals.  Bystr...

After finally watching the slow-motion video replay from Friday night’s controversial play in the Indians win over the Yankees, I do not believe that a replay review would necessarily have gone the Yankees’ way. The reason is in the standard needed to overturn the call in the field. That standard is clear and convincing evidence. To review, it was the bottom of the sixth inning. The Yankees were ahead by a score of 8 to 3. Lonnie Chisenhall came to the plate, with two men on base and two out.  The count was no balls and two strikes. Yankees pitcher Chad Green throws high and inside. The umpire signals that the ball has hit Chisenhall’s hand. Catcher Gary Sanchez, who caught the ball, immediately points to the dugout to signal his belief that manager Joe Girardi should request a replay review. If the call were overturned, the result would have been a foul tip strike out and the inning would have been over. Instead, of course, the inning continued any grand slam home ...

Yes!  What a catch by Odubel Herrera!  Let the celebration begin!  That's three in a row against a team that was considered the best in baseball a month ago.  Wait, what?  Replay review?  You mean we can't celebrate just yet? Ugh! Replay review. A way to drag things out some more. A way to slow momentum and kill the spur of the moment emotional highs. Looked like a great play, but let's wait to see what the replay umpire in New York says.  Twice in the last eight days a replay review has interrupted a Phillies end of the game celebration. Last week, against the Marlins, replay took away a walk-off win and subjected us to six more late night innings.  I have to get my kids up and out to school in the morning for crying out loud.  Last night, the replay review was mercifully short. It was clear that Herrera made an incredible leaping catch right in front of the wall for the final out. But, hey. Let's give it a look just to b...