Rockies manager Walt Weiss ejected over replay review
Rockies manager Walt Weiss was ejected during the third inning of Wednesday’s game against the Houston Astros. Astros manager A.J. Hinch challenged a safe call at second base which appeared to be correctly overturned upon review. Weiss was upset, but not about the call. He took issue with the procedure in the replay review. Per MLB.com, Weiss said:
"Pitcher on the rubber, batter in the box, it's too late to challenge the previous play -- that's the way we were told before the season started,"
According to MLB’s replay review regulations, he was right. A manager must challenge the play before the next play starts, and it appeared that Astros pitcher Brett Oberholtzer was on the rubber and Rockies batter DJ LeMahieu was in the box when the review was initiated.
However, umpiring crew chief Jerry Layne disputes Weiss’s claim about the timing of the review. A manager does not have to come out onto the field to challenge, and Layne noted that Hinch was on the top step of the dugout -- presumably initiating the challenge before the next play commenced. Layne further said:
“I don't think Walt understood when he actually initiated his challenge. You don't have to come out on the field anymore. I felt the challenge was within the guidelines…”
(h/t MLB.com)
Photo credit: Ron Chenoy/USA TODAY Sports
