NewsUmps use review incorrectly in St. Pete
MLB tells crew it shouldn't have used replay for Burrell hit
By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com
06/26/09 8:03 PM ET
Major League Baseball told an umpiring crew Friday that it mistakenly went to a video review Thursday on a ball hit by Tampa Bay's Pat Burrell that bounced into the stands at Tropicana Field.According to The Associated Press, Major League Baseball vice president of umpiring Mike Port told crew chief Gary Cederstrom on Friday that he had made the mistake. The error marked the first time since baseball began using replay last August that the system was used incorrectly.
Replay is to be used only on potential home runs involving boundary calls to determine if a ball was fair or foul, if the ball cleared the wall, or if there was fan interference.
Of the 23 calls reviewed this year, eight of them were reversed.
The play occurred Thursday, with Tampa Bay leading Philadelphia, 10-4, with two outs in the seventh inning. Burrell came to the plate with Carl Crawford on first base and hit a drive to left-center field that bounced into the seats. Crawford rounded third base and headed home. Umpires went to the replay to check to see whether a fan touched the ball as it bounced up.
Following a video review of one minute, 36 seconds, umpires ruled the ball cleanly skipped into the seats, called it a ground-rule double and sent Crawford back to third. Carlos Pena ended the inning on popup in a game the Rays eventually won, 10-4.
Had there been interference on the play, the umpires could have awarded Crawford home plate, however, umpires must make that determination on their own, without replay.
Cederstrom had twice used replay earlier this season. His crew took away a home run from Baltimore's Melvin Mora and called him out because of fan interference. He also let a home run stand by Houston's Miguel Tejada.
Jesse Sanchez is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
