Yankees fans are irate as another controversial replay review takes a run off the board
Coming off a dispiriting loss in Game 2 and with the scene shifting to Kansas City, the New York Yankees came into ALDS Game 3 against the Royals in desperate need of a fast start. Something to snatch back momentum from a red-hot Kansas City squad; something to show the team and its fans that an early exit wasn't simply a foregone conclusion.
It seemed like Gleyber Torres had provided just that in the top of the third. With two outs and Oswaldo Cabrera on first base, Torres blooped a ball that appeared to land right on the right-field foul line, allowing Cabrera to come all the way around to score. Right-field umpire Ryan Blakney, however, saw it differently, kicking off yet another replay review controversy this October.
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Yankees fans explode over controversial replay ruling vs. Royals
Here's the play in question:
Based on the position of TBS' television cameras, it was hard to get a crystal clear look at where exactly the ball landed. From the looks that we were given, however, it sure seemed like the ball clipped part of the line — at least the Yankees dugout seemed to think so, as Aaron Boone almost immediately challenged the call.
But the call on the field was a foul ball, and the replay center in New York didn't see any evidence definitive enough to overturn it, making it nothing more than a foul ball and sending Torres back to home plate. He would later fly out to right to end the inning, keeping the game scoreless ... and touching off a firestorm on Twitter as angry Yankees fans immediately got their Zapruder films ready.
It sure seems like some chalk flied up, and screenshots are even more convincing:
Of course, Royals fans would likely respond that it was New York who benefitted from a sketchy review process in Game 1 when Jazz Chisholm Jr. was called safe at second base on a steal attempt and later came around to score. If we may broker peace here, though: The upshot is that MLB's replay review process is leaving a lot to be desired this postseason, and unless something changes, the controversies will only continue.