KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Manager Ned Yost received a call from Major League Baseball Wednesday concerning the call the Royals challenged, but was not overturned.
The Royals challenged that Indians shortstop Jose Ramirez was out to complete a double play in the eighth inning, although umpire Bob Davidson called him safe.
Replays on the Kauffman Stadium scoreboard showed the ball was in first baseman Eric Hosmer’s glove before Ramirez’s foot touched the base. However, the call was not overturned.
It should have been.
“I talked to MLB. They admitted they missed the call,” Yost said. “They said they had a breakdown in their system and they deeply regretted it.”
Yost said he was not told what the breakdown was.
“But there were breakdowns all over that field last night,” Yost said. “We had an opportunity to turn a double play after that play last night. We had a runner at second base with nobody out and couldn’t score a run. There was enough blame for that game to go around to put on everybody.”
The Indians wound up scoring the go-ahead run in the inning for a 2-1 victory over the Royals.
“This is one of those rare circumstances in which the super-slow motion view was delayed and the replay official reached a decision without the benefit of that information,” MLB released in a statement. “Earlier today we communicated with Ned Yost, and during the conversation we expressed our regret for this occurrence.”
Yost said the game could not be protested.
“You protest the rules, not an out call,” Yost said. “If that would be the case, you’d be protesting every day.”
Despite the snafu, Yost remains a fan of using replays to challenge close and questionable calls.
“I think it’s a great system,” Yost said. “There is going to be mistakes made, just like everything else. It’s inevitable. Things are going to happen, for one reason or for another. I’m pleased with it.
“Yeah, they made a mistake last night and got a call wrong. Admit it, apologize for it and move on. That’s what I try to do when I make a mistake — admit it, I apologize for it if I need it and I move forward. I’m much gladder we have the system compared to when we didn’t have the system. I think it is working fine.”