Baltimore Orioles: Glaring issues with instant replay in big loss

The Baltimore Orioles found themselves on the wrong end of another crooked game. However is there a lesson in this loss for MLB about instant replay?

The Baltimore Orioles didn’t drop another game by a wide margin to Houston because of instant replay last night. In fact, instant replay had nothing to do whatsoever in the outcome of the game or even it’s ebb and flow. It was a total non-issue, if not for the fact that it (that being instant replay) was allowed to run around like a decapitulated chicken during the game.

But I’ll get to that in a moment. This game all but got out of control early on, with Chris Tillman struggling from the outset. Tillman’s line: 2.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 5 BB, 0 K. There was some concern that Tillman was still struggling with his shoulder injury, however after the game he said he was fine. He merely struggled with his command, which is something that he freely admitted. So chalk it up as just a poor start.

Anything that could have gone wrong for the Orioles last night did – as evidenced by the fact that Ryan Flaherty pitched the ninth inning. If Houston wasn’t scoring on home runs or RBI-doubles, they were scoring on softly hit swinging bunts with the bases loaded. If it wasn’t that, it was a Baltimore chop (again with the bases loaded) forcing in a run. Houston seemingly moved in and made themselves at home at Oriole Park at Camden Yards without the Orioles knowing until it was too late. 

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In contrast, when the Orioles did manage to make decent contact with the ball, it was either at a Houston fielder or it was run down by one. Houston seems to have an outfield that’s capable of covering a lot of ground, no matter what the situation. And for an Oriole team that’s used to spraying the ball around the field, that had to be incredibly frustrating. The Orioles did score two lone runs, both off of homers. Chris Davis hit a solo shot in the fourth, and Steve Pearce followed suit in the eighth.

In what was an otherwise dullard of a game, there should be a lesson however for MLB. Houston’s Altuve led off the top of the sixth with what eventually was allowed to stand as a double. His fly ball hit off the top of the outfield wall, and was played on the fly by the Orioles’ outfield. Houston manager A.J. Hinch eventually went out to inquire about a replay review – thinking that the ball was a home run.

The umpires huddled up and at first appeared to deny the review. Hinch persisted and seemed to refuse to be denied. After awhile, the umpires huddled again and eventually went to the headphones for an apparent replay review. The conversation was quick, and the play stood as a double – with Hinch still complaining about the decision, while holding an 8-1 lead.

We later found out that the discussion was actually more about whether Hinch had waited too long to come out and ask for the challenge. So putting two-and-two together, I suspect that the first protestation was him inquiring about the review, and the second was him trying to convince the umpire to check the rule on how long he can wait to challenge – which eventually happened. Regardless of the details, the optics didn’t really play well, and in the mean time the Oriole pitcher ended up being frozen in a sense.

Buck Showalter came out of the dugout at one point seemingly ready for a fight given the fact that Hinch appeared to be arguing his way into a challenge. However when given the explanation he seemed to accept it. Instant replay is a good thing for baseball; I’ve said that from the beginning, and I still believe that. However it needs to be fine tuned this off season. Far too often, umpires are getting their arms twisted into asking for a crew chief review by politicking managers who have the power of persuasion. That’s not good for instant replay, and it’s not good for baseball. 

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Is it really fair for a game (and/or possibly a season) to hang in the balance by whether or not a skipper can diplomatically persuade an umpire to “independently” review a play? Going back to last night, ironically that play should have had the courtesy of a review by the crew chief since it involved a potential home run. The fact is that it was botched across the board – by Houston’s manager and by the umpiring crew.

The idea is to get the call right. However what we saw last night was a manager who refused to take no for an answer, and the appearance that he had argued his way (twice) into a review. Obviously that wasn’t totally the case, as the umpires called NY to check the rule on how long a manager could wait to ask for instant replay. But in the mean time, the game was delayed for over five minutes.

If you’re going to allow for the crew chief to review a play on his own, let’s truly let that be the case. Managers should not be allowed to petition the umpires to review a play “on his own accord.” So I would submit that moving forward any manager who does this should be ejected. Yes folks, you read that right; if a manager pulls the old how about you look at that on your own without me challenging it, he’s gone. 

Next: Baltimore Orioles make history and still manage to lose

The series with Houston concludes this afternoon, as the Birds hope to earn a split. Yovani Gallardo will be on the mound for the O’s, and he’ll be opposed by Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. Game tie is set for just after 1:30 PM.