CLEVELAND, Ohio — Austin Hedges was waiting at his locker to talk to reporters following Cleveland’s 4-3 loss to Detroit on Monday at Progressive Field.
Hedges had plenty on his mind after a late rally by the Guardians came up short. But it was the three early runs scored by the Tigers following an overturned call in the first inning that had Cleveland’s catcher fuming well after the conclusion of the game.
Officials at Major League Baseball’s replay center in New York ruled Hedges had illegally blocked the plate when Detroit’s Javier Baez attempted to slide head-first during a wild play that started when Harold Castro sent a ground ball bouncing off the bag at second base.
Hedges said somebody in New York needs to issue an apology to Guardians starter Zach Plesac, who was “throwing the ball amazing” before having to re-emerge from Cleveland’s dugout when the call was reversed. In addition to the run credited to Detroit when the call was overturned, Plesac surrendered a two-run home run to Tigers rookie Kerry Carpenter that put the Guardians in a 3-0 hole.
Here’s what Hedges had to say when asked about the replay challenge.
“First of all, it costs (us) the game.
It’s a play that’s been called a few times now recently that really has never been called before. For some reason, New York feels like they need to take over the game and change the way the game’s played.
Guys are just out. There’s plays at home that are beating the runners, and for 150 years you’re out. And now, we’re calling some type of rule that is really tricky to define. To be able to take the game into their own hands that way and to, first of all, that cost one run automatically. And then what ended up transitioning. Honestly, it’s a disgrace. It’s embarrassing.
I think New York owes Zach Plesac specifically an apology because they took the game out of his hands. The guy was throwing the ball amazingly. Overturning that call right there, like I said, it costs the game.
I don’t need to get into the rest of the debacle with the umpires because it was a really, really poorly executed job by them. It’s too bad. It’s too bad when we play a sport where we get held accountable. Where we say something, we get held accountable, we get mocked, we get shamed. There’s no accountability on their part right now. And that’s really, really sad. I don’t know why, but there needs to be a little bit of, you know we talk about equality in this world right now, there ‘aint no equality with that. These guys are going out there with no responsibilities.
They say ‘OK, here’s a play where I can show my power. Here’s a play where I can take over the game.’ And that’s not the game that we play. That’s not the game that we’ve played forever. They’re trying to take over the game and they’re trying to change the game. And it’s disappointing. For a team that goes out there and fights every single night to win every game, for it to cost us a game when we’re trying to win a division, we’re trying to make the playoffs. We’re trying to do something special. For that to be taken out of our hands like that is a disgrace and it’s extremely disappointing. I’m disappointed and that’s all I have to say. Thank you.
Hedges’ rant closely resembled remarks by Twins manager Rocco Baldelli on Aug. 7 after Minnesota lost to Toronto in extra-innings on a similar play. Catcher Gary Sanchez was ruled to have blocked the plate illegally as Whit Merrifield tried to score on a sacrifice fly by Cavan Biggio. Like the play in Cleveland, Merrifield was originally called out by the home plate umpire, but replay officials overturned the call after the Blue Jays challenged.
“For someone to step in, in that situation, and ultimately make a decision that that was blocking the plate, that’s beyond embarrassing for our game,” Baldelli told reporters after Minnesota’s loss.
Guardians manager Terry Francona said he tried to explain to crew chief Lance Barksdale that he understood once the Tigers challenged the call Tuesday, the matter was out of their hands.
“It goes to New York, I get that,” Francona said. “I’ve been told by every umpire that I’ve come across, don’t challenge a throw from the infield because it’s not enough space. And then I didn’t think it was egregious anyway to overturn. Frustrating.”
Plesac said it was tough to go back out and pitch after thinking the Guardians had secured the final out of the inning.
“We got the third out, that was clear, you know?” Plesac said. “I don’t understand how it’s interference if you touch the plate. Usually interference means if you block them from touching the plate. (Hedges) tried to do a spin move that he’s known for, trying to get away from the tag and make a move. Hedges made a good play from a good throw from (Tyler) Freeman, made the tag, got him out. Weird call, for sure.”
The loss cost Cleveland a game in the American League Central Division chase as both the Twins and White Sox won and trimmed the Guardians’ lead to a single game.
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