No Catch - AZ Fielder Drops Ball After Colliding with Wall

With two outs and two on in the 2nd inning of Wednesday's Diamondbacks-Athletics game, A's batter Mark Canha hit a fly ball to deep left-center field. Arizona outfielder Ketel Marte attempted to catch the ball, which entered his glove, but after colliding with the wall, dropped the ball, ruled no catch/safe by 3B Umpire Mike Muchlinski. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo, the call was confirmed as an RBI triple (no catch). Should it have been?

In order to answer this question, we turn to the Official Baseball Rules' Definition of Terms: "A CATCH is the act of a fielder in getting secure possession in their hand or glove of a ball in flight and firmly holding it; providing they do not use their cap, protector, pocket or any other part of their uniform in getting possession."

So far so good, but key to this play is the sentence that follows: "It is not a catch, however, if simultaneously or immediately following their contact with the ball, they collide with a player, or with a wall, or if they fall down, and as a result of such collision or falling, drop the ball. It is not a catch if a fielder touches a fly ball which then hits a member of the offensive team or an umpire and then is caught by another defensive player."

Thus, because Marte after colliding with the wall dropped the ball, it is not a catch. Much like falling to the ground, the fielder must complete the act of catching the ball in order to receive credit for such a catch.

There is no magic "two steps" rule or similar football-esque vernacular regarding a catch. Instead, this is the metric umpires are given: "In establishing the validity of the catch, the fielder shall hold the ball long enough to prove that they have complete control of the ball and that their release of the ball is voluntary and intentional. If the fielder has made the catch and drops the ball while in the act of making a throw following the catch, the ball shall be adjudged to have been caught."

To be judged as voluntary and intentional, the ball's release must satisfy a key criterion: the fielder meant for the ball to fall out of their glove. During a throw—the "dropped on the transfer" provision of the rule—the fielder voluntarily opens their glove to retrieve the ball and the release of the ball is intentional in that sense, even if the end result (dropping the ball) is not.

In the Arizona-Oakland game, Marte does not intend to release the ball in this fashion after colliding with the wall and, the fielder not having demonstrated complete control to the umpire in the immediate aftermath of and while still under the effects of momentum from his collision with the wall, 3B Umpire Muchlinski properly rules the play a dropped ball (via safe mechanic), a call affirmed via Replay Review.

Video as follows:

Royals' Runners Passing Replay Stands on Tag Attempt

Royals Manager Mike Matheny unsuccessfully challenged 3B Umpire David Rackley's runners passing no-call Friday night in Kansas City as catcher Salvador Perez ran White Sox runner R3 Zack Collins back to and past third base, into left field, as trail runner R2 Billy Hamilton stood on third base, in rare case where being "too good" at one's job might have cost Kansas City an extra out.

The Play: With one out and two on (R2, R3) in the 7th inning of a 3-0 game, Chicago batter Nick Madrigal hit a ground ball to Kansas City shortstop Nick Madrigal, who threw to catcher Perez as White Sox R3 Collins ran toward home plate and R2 Hamilton advanced to third base. Perez ran Collins back to third base where Hamilton was standing and as Perez attempted to tag Collins, Collins ran past the base and up the left field line.

The Call: 3B Umpire David Rackley signaled Hamilton safe at third base after a collision with Perez and then signaled Collins out for abandoning his effort to run the bases.

The Challenge: Matheny challenged Rackley's runner's passing no-call, asserting that Hamilton (the trailing runner) should have been declared out when Collins (the lead/preceding runner) ran past third base and into left field.

The Rule: A very similar play occurred during Spring Training 2021 when 3B Umpire Sam Holbrook called Tampa Bay's Nathan Lukes (trailing runner) out for passing Vidal Brujan (lead runner). Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(9) states that a runner is out when they pass a preceding runner: "A runner may be deemed to have passed a preceding (i.e., lead) runner based on their actions or the actions of a preceding runner." For abandonment, a runner is out pursuant to OBR 5.09(b)(2) when the runner leaves the base path, "obviously abandoning their effort to touch the next base." Finally, though this did not occur here, if two runners are in contact with a base at the same time, OBR 5.06(a)(2) states, "the following runner shall be out when tagged and the preceding runner is entitled to the base, unless [it is a force play and the trailing runner is forced to advance; in this situation, the preceding/lead runner is out when tagged]."

Related Post: Runners Passing Nearly Turns to Lead Abandonment (3/9/21).

As we previously discussed, the abandonment rule means that it is simply not possible for a lead runner in this situation to be out for abandonment until said runner returns to and runs past the base, thus causing a passing situation to occur. In other words, the runner must demonstrate their abandonment through actions, such as running up the left field line well past third base and the only way to do that is to cause the trail runner to be guilty of passing the lead runner prior to the abandonment.

The Replay Review & Result: Thus, the CWS-KC play had all the makings of a double play for passing and abandonment, if not for one crucial piece: catcher Salvy Perez's tag attempt. If Perez was able to tag Collins prior to Collins returning to third base, Collins would be out at the moment of the tag and thus Hamilton would be unable to pass him. Because the Replay Official could not definitively determine whether a tag actually occurred, Rackley's call (abandonment, no passing) stood and Hamilton remained at third base.

This is one situation where Perez's hustle might have actually hurt his team; if Perez didn't attempt to tag Collins, all else equal, Hamilton would have been out for passing followed shortly by Collins being declared out for abandonment: an inning-ending double play.

Video as follows:

Replay Rewind - HBP Reversed to Out at First Base

After HP Umpire Jordan Baker called for a hit-by-pitch on an inside pitch to Red Sox batter Christian Vasquez, Twins manager Rocco Baldelli challenged the call, resulting in Replay Review's decision to declare Vasquez out at first base despite Baker having called "Time" immediately after the ball ricocheted from the batter's box.

With no score in the 2nd inning during Jackie Robinson Day's Boston-Minnesota game, batter Vasquez checked his swing on a 0-2 fastball from Twins pitcher Michael Pineda, ruled a hit-by-pitch by HP Umpire Baker.

With umpires ruling the batter had not attempted to strike the pitch (no swing), Baldelli challenged the call, with Replay Review determining that the pitched ball had not made contact with Vasquez's hands, but instead with the knob of the bat.

As a result, despite the plate umpire's "Time" call, Replay HQ ruled Vasquez out at first base, having seen that Twins shortstop JT Riddle was in position to field the batted ball and actually did retrieve the ball and throw it to first baseman Miguel Sano, who tagged first base prior to Vasquez's arrival (all off-camera). 

Naturally, Vasquez acted as if the pitch hit him so he didn't actually run to first base while the Twins acted as if the pitch had struck the bat (and was thus a fair ground ball). Replay determined the Twins were in the right, and thus awarded the out.

It should be noted that when first released in 2014, MLB's Replay Review Regulations (specifically IV.A.4) stated, "The Replay Official may not declare a runner out based on a play the umpire believes would have occurred subsequent to the play subject to Replay Review." MLB's website, which fails to supply the full text of the regulations as it did in 2014, makes no reference to this sentence.

For more information on playing out a sequence that might go to and be reversed by replay, see the following articles regarding the false fourth out.

Related Post: False Fourth Out - Ball Stays Alive After Third Out (7/25/18).

Related Post: Baseball Rules Series: Replay's New Normal (4th Out) (4/19/14).

Video as follows:

Replay Rewind - Phillies' Play at the Plate in Atlanta

When Replay Review upheld HP Umpire Lance Barrett's safe call on Phillies runner Alec Bohm's go-ahead run in the 9th inning against Atlanta Sunday night, the Braves looked to have fallen victim to MLB's video review rules and the infamous "call stands" outcome.

In sum, Bohm tagged from third base on batter Didi Gregorius' sacrifice fly to left fielder Marcell Ozuna, who threw to Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud as Bohm slid into home plate where he either did or did not make contact with the plate using his left shoe, with HP Umpire Barrett ruling the runner safe and Atlanta Manager Brian Snitker challenging the call.

Enter Replay Review, which after several minutes determined that not enough video evidence existed—it wasn't "clear and convincing"—to prove the runner had failed to touch home plate, and for that reason, the on-field ruling of "safe" stood. Philadelphia scored its seventh run of the ballgame and went on to win the contest, 7-6.

Had MLB's Replay Review been set up to call plays as they presented themselves based on a most probable standard—with two options, "safe" or "out" as the case may be—the outcome here likely would have been an out call.

But since Replay Review splits up outcomes into call confirmed (the evidence is clear and convincing that the umpire's call was correct), overturned (the evidence is clear and convincing that the umpire's call was incorrect), and stands (the evidence fails to meet that threshold)—made even more difficult by the logically arduous and complex task of trying to prove a negative, that something did not happen (that the runner did not touch home plate)—the outcome here in the judgment of the Replay Official was "call stands" for lack of evidence.

Video as follows:

Replay Rewind - NL Wild Card HBP in Washington

Before Nationals batter Juan Soto's bases-clearing RBI single/error gave Washington the lead over Milwaukee in the NL Wild Card Game, a Replay Review decision upheld HP Umpire Mike Everitt's HBP call on Michael Taylor, who would become one of the baserunners that put the Nats ahead for good.

First Things First: 1B Umpire Kerwin Danley had a pulled foot (safe) call challenged by Milwaukee early. I too had a pulled foot by the Brewers first baseman in real time and on replay, I couldn't quite confirm it. That's good enough for a call stands i my opinion. Because the end result (safe) jived with my initial thought (safe), I didn't spend too much time here.

Crew consultation is key here.

The Main HBP Event: As for the 8th inning HBP that set Washington's rally into motion, I had a hit-by-pitch in real time, but on replay at first glance, I had a foul ball. Slowing it down even further, I couldn't be quite certain that Josh Hader's pitch hit Taylor's bat first, though I still believe it did.

In other words, if we were solely using video to make a call on this play, I'd have a foul ball, but because the Replay Review standard requires clear and convincing evidence in order to confirm or overturn an on-field ruling, I must stick with call stands because the replay isn't entirely clear and convincing - or rather, it's convincing, yet unclear.

Mark it down as Craig Counsell going 0-for-2 on the night in replay (teams get two Manager's Challenges to use during the postseason), though both plays were fairly close—the second of which was the definition of a 50-50 call.

It would have been great to have at least one more frame with which to slow the tape and a useful camera angle not obstructed by the bat itself (nor by the player), because from this angle, I can't tell if the ball glanced off the wrist before hitting the bat. An aerial view, like the top-down in Tampa Bay, would have been key.

This is why the initial call on the field is so important and why a crew consultation is absolutely vital: when "call stands" is the outcome because of inconclusive or unclear video, the original on-field ruling is what will prevail.
Related Post: Crew Consultation - Importance of the Call on the Field (10/2/19).

Video as follows:

Rules Reminder - Safe Passage When Base Dislodged

Giants outfielder Kevin Pillar successfully stole second base in San Francisco when his forceful slide dislodged the bag, ruled safe by 2B Umpire Chad Fairchild as Brewers SS Orlando Arcia tagged Pillar while not in contact with the bag, confirmed via Replay Review following a challenge by Brewers Manager Craig Counsell.

This Rules Review reminds umpires that runners are to be ruled safe if a base is knocked off its moorings during the course of play, assuming that the runner initially arrived safely.

Official Baseball Rule 5.09(b)(4) states that "A runner is out when—He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base," but note the following approved ruling: "If the impact of a runner breaks a base loose from its position, no play can be made on that runner at that base if he had reached the base safely."

Had there been a following runner, the matter would fall into umpire judgment as to whether the following runner "touches or occupies the point marked by the dislodged bag."

Thus, with Pillar appearing to slide well past the dislodged base's proper location, the approved ruling protects him—the action runner—from being put out due to his impact that caused the base to come loose; even though Pillar slid past the base, because it became dislodged during his slide, he cannot be put out at that base as a result of that action.

However, if Pillar continued to advance toward third (he, of course could be put out in that situation via a tag), any following runner would be required to slide to the point marked by the dislodged bag.

NOTE: The base is defined in the book as a 15-inch square (or, for home base, a 17-inch square slab with two corners removed so that one edge is 17 inches long, two adjacent sides 8.5 inches, and the remaining two sides 12 inches and set at angle to make a point), four of which set in a 90-foot square comprise the infield, but a bag is defined as the physical whitened rubber cuboid that marks where the base is.

Put another way, "First, second and third bases shall be marked by white canvas or rubber-covered bags, securely attached to the ground as indicated in Diagram 2" (OBR 2.03).

Thus, the following runner would slide to the "point marked by the dislodged bag."

Q: What is the point marked by the dislodged bag also known as? A: The base.

Video as follows:

Replay Rewind - Fan INT & Com Clarity

Baseball's gameday communication problem exists largely because MLB umpires don't verbally communicate with fans or media during the game, the same way NFL and NHL referees have microphones to announce penalties or the way NBA officials walk over to the scorer's and media tables to explain calls.

All we have in baseball is a public address announcer's statement based on the official word accompanied by a visual mechanic—out, safe, no violation (one-hand washout/safe), score the run, waive the run, home run, base award, fair, foul ball, foul tip, hit batsman, strike, ball, obstruction, offensive interference, catcher's interference, fan interference...

...And it's such a fan interference call that brings about this edition of Replay Rewind.

Remember in 2017 when the Associated Press hinted that microphones may soon arrive for MLB umpires? That didn't happen, and instead, we got a leaked Tom Hallion "ass in the jackpot" video that MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred tried to scrub from the internet, and which a related communication with the Umpires' Union recently became the subject of an MLB inquiry related to the Angel Hernandez lawsuit.
Related Post: Umpire Microphones May Arrive in MLB This Year (4/18/17).
Related Post: Revisiting the Situation - Tom Hallion & Terry Collins (6/13/18).
Related Post: Rob Manfred is in the Jackpot - CBA Cut Hallion-Collins (6/15/18).
Related Post: MLB Fight with Hernandez Evokes 20-Year-Old Feud (5/24/19).

MLB tried to hide Hallion/Collins audio.

Anywho, a UEFL fan watching Wednesday's Twins-Indians game sent me a note regarding a play in the bottom of the 5th inning after Indians batter Francisco Lindor was safe at first base due to an overthrown ball.

The Play: With none out and none on, Lindor hit a ground ball to Twins third baseman Miguel Sano, whose throw to first base sailed wide and toward the wall beyond first base, in foul territory. The ball caromed off the bottom of the wall and popped into the air, above the warning track, whereupon a fan appeared to reach over the wall—through the boundary plane separating the field of play from the spectator area—and touched the live ball.

The Call, Replay, and Confirmation: After consultation, Chief Jeff Nelson's crew awarded Lindor second base, prompting a challenge by Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli. Replay Review returned in agreement, confirming HP Umpire Laz Diaz's ruling of fan interference and second-base award for batter-runner Lindor.

Nelly's crew gets together after the play.

The Rule: This was obviously spectator interference, as the fan clearly reached over to touch the live ball, but the question is rather what happens to the runner(s)? Pursuant to Official Baseball Rule 6.01(e), "When there is spectator interference with any thrown or batted ball, the ball shall be dead at the moment of interference and the umpire shall impose such penalties as in his opinion will nullify the act of interference."

Analysis: Under this "nullify the act" principle (which also shows up in Obstruction Type 2/B situations, e.g.) the umpires must determine what would have happened had the violative act—in this case, fan interference—not occurred. Both the on-field umpires and the Replay Official determined that, had interference not occurred, Lindor would have advanced to second base, and that's why he was awarded said base.

Proper Mechanics: From an umpiring standpoint, everything was handled properly. Diaz, off-camera, declared the ball out of play in real-time, the crew convened after the play to determine that the penalty for fan interference, in order to nullify the act in this situation, would be to award the batter-runner second base, and, upon receipt of the Replay Official's verdict, Crew Chief Nelson visually indicated 1) fan interference, and 2) the batter-runner shall be placed on second base.

Not every Replay is as simple as safe or out.

Communication Problems: The problem, then, is for anyone who isn't familiar with Umpiring Sign Language (USL, ©CloseCallSports), it's not all that easy to figure out 1) what the original ruling was, 2) what exactly was replayed, and 3) what the final outcome was.

The stadium's public address announcer does announce 1) and 3)—the PA listens in for the official verbiage and then dictates this to the stadium—but this isn't too helpful for a television audience subject to broadcasters that aren't all that great with rules to begin with.

Of all replays shown of the play beyond first base, we only see one umpire—1B Umpire Roberto Ortiz—who doesn't make any call whatsoever as the ball leaves the playing field in the fan's hands.

Umpire Ortiz is the only official pictured.

To an umpire, the obvious answer is that we don't see the first base umpire make a call because that's not his call to make. In this situation, the plate umpire has boundary responsibilities, so HP Umpire Diaz, off-camera and in a much better position than any other umpire, is the one making the dead ball call. Because Diaz isn't shown on camera, it'd be very easy for the average fan to assume that the crew didn't make a call whatsoever when, in fact, Diaz did acknowledge that a live ball had died.

The broadcast acknowledged that the crew met to discuss the play, but never followed up with the umpire's ultimate pre-replay determination, all while the public address announced that the Twins were challenging the umpires' ruling that a fan had interfered with the ball.

Nelson signals review's interference finding.

After Replay Review confirmed the crew's ruling, the broadcast was confused whether the runner would be sent back to first or placed at second base, despite Nelson pointing the runner to second base.

Gil's Call: This confusion could be easy to clear up with a better communication system. As for the reluctancy to incorporate microphones, especially re: Hallion/Collins, there's a pretty significant difference between a hot mic during an ejection argument and a deliberately activated microphone during the public announcement of a ruling.

The microphones are already there.

MLB would be wise to shore up the communication issue by adopting the Nippon Professional Baseball approach to placing a microphone on field level for the umpires to use in communicating tricky rulings to the stadium—by not putting the PA microphone on the official like the NFL or NHL does, baseball would avoid a Hallion/Collins situation, while still allowing umpires to communicate with the fans. The Replay Review headsets already have microphones—just add the capability to flip a switch and broadcast to the stadium. Take Ed Hochuli or Wes McCauley out to the ballgame, and give us something like:

Minnesota has challenged the call that a spectator interfered with play and the decision to award the batter-runner second base...

And after the review:

After review, the ruling on the field has been confirmed [or, in McCauley fashion, "the ruling on the field has been...confirmed!]. The spectator reached through the plane separating the stands and playing field, and touched a live ball while it was over the playing field. This is fan interference, the penalty of which shall be to nullify the act. In other words, the penalty is to determine what would have happened had the fan not interfered and to place baserunners accordingly. In this situation, the crew deemed that had the fan not interfered, Lindor would have advanced to second base and awarded him second base in order to nullify the act. The Replay Official confirmed this ruling. Minnesota loses its challenge.

Field-adjacent microphones: a chance for umpires to regain some personality that was lost when MLB asphyxiated the American and National League offices for Y2K.

Video as follows:

20-Year Replay Rewind - Pulli's 1999 HR Review

20 years ago today, on May 31, 1999, baseball used Replay Review on a home run call for the first time in MLB history, courtesy NL Umpire Frank Pulli, who consulted a dugout camera to view video of a Cliff Floyd fly ball, overturning 2B Umpire Greg Gibson's HR call to a double,* having ruled that Floyd's towering drive struck below a painted yellow line (or where one would have been located) at Florida's Pro Player Stadium.

Frank Pulli makes history. PHOTO: Reuters.

The Play: With two out and one on (R2), Floyd hit a fly ball to deep left-center field, originally ruled a double by Greg Gibson, the second base umpire, motioning to both dugouts that the ball had hit the left field scoreboard that separated the portion of the wall that was in play from that which was out of play.

Replay Review's First Customer: After crew consultation with HP Umpire Greg Bonin, 1B Umpire Ed Rapuano, U2 Gibson & U3 Pulli, the crew changed Gibson's original ruling and deemed the play a home run, bringing out Cardinals Manager Tony LaRussa for an argument, upon which Crew Chief Pulli found a broadcast camera adjacent to Florida's dugout and viewed a replay of the fly ball on the camera's monitor, determining that the ball had indeed struck below the boundary line, just as Gibson had initially judged.

*Pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-2-b-7, "Quality of Correctness for an ejection that occurs after umpire consultation or instant replay review, wherein the initial call was changed during or after consultation/review, shall be adjudged by the correctness of the call after consultation/review." As such, the post-umpire consultation/pre-replay ruling of HR was overturned via Replay Review.

After Review: Pulli overturned the HR call to a double, awarding baserunner R2 Alex Gonzalez home plate, and bringing out Marlins Interim Manager Fredi Gonzalez, whose argument that replays were not permitted resulted in a decision to protest the game.

Frank Pulli checks the footage. PHOTO: AP.

Said Pulli at the time, "I sure don't want to make a habit of it, but at that moment, I thought it was the proper thing to do." Added Floyd after his home run was overturned to a double, "He did end up making the right call with the help of the cameraman. I was hoping maybe I'd get a cheap one."

NL Denies Protest: Despite St. Louis winning the game 5-2 (instead of scoring on a HR, Floyd was stranded on third base), National League President Len Coleman denied Florida's protest, while admonishing Pulli and directing umpires not to consult video instant replay in the future, a directive that would hold until 2008, when MLB adopted limited instant replay exclusively for reviews on HR/not HR calls.

SIDEBAR: Coleman resigned in 1999 over the issue of—you guessed it—MLB Commissioner Bud Selig's attempt to switch control of the major league umpires from the AL and NL offices to the centralized MLB office and Executive Vice President Sandy Alderson, who himself had no officiating experience. See the following post for a video history regarding this dispute.
Related Post: Video - Truth About Baseball's Electronic Strike Zone (5/30/19).

Pulli passed away on August 28, 2013, at the age of 78 due to complications from Parkinson's disease, yet Ish's 30+ years in professional baseball, aside from his four World Series, six National League Championship Series, four Division Series, and two All-Star Games, may be best remembered for his unintentional introduction of Replay Review into the major leagues in May of 1999.
Related Post: In Memoriam: Remembering NL Umpire Frank Pulli (8/30/13).

Ask UEFL - HR Replay Stands Due to Parallax

Red Sox batter Michael Chavis' home run over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park Tuesday night resulted in a "call stands" outcome, upholding 3B Umpire David Rackley's HR call in favor of Boston following a Rockies-requested Replay Review.

We received an Ask the UEFL question about the Replay Official's decision to uphold Rackley's call of "fair ball/HR" all while a camera angle from the stands up along the first baseline suggested the batted ball may have been foul.

What happened here and why did this call stand?

Replay Review lost sight of a high fly ball.

Analysis: This is a perfect example of parallax proving unreliable, if not deceptive. As the attached video analysis demonstrates, the camera angle well to the right of the left field foul line/third baseline extended has a habit of making any batted ball in flight look less fair than the ball actually is (and vice versa for a camera angle from the third-base dugout, paired with a batted ball near the right field line).

To counteract the parallax deception, baseball relies on another law of physics related to vision: if the ball crosses in front of the foul pole, the ball is therefore closer to the viewer than the pole at the point at which it crosses the pole. Ordinarily, for a viewer watching the ball/pole interaction from the playing field (as an umpire or player would), this is a shortcut to say that a ball crossing in front of the pole and leaving the playing field in flight is a fair ball and home run.

Conversely, a ball crossing behind the pole suggests it is farther away from the viewer than the pole at the point of intersection, which would suggest a foul ball.

Parallax proves certain replays unreliable.

Why the Call Stood: For this particular play, Chavis' home run was hit so high in the air that the foul pole frame of reference did not apply to this play, as far as Replay Review was concerned. Because the pole and ball interaction did not appear in any video replay, the Replay Official could not conclusively determine what the ball's location was as it left the playing field (e.g., when it crossed the plane separating the field from the spectator area, as signified by the foul pole).

Due to his angle from the playing field surface up the left field line, 3B Umpire Rackley thus was in the best position of any person to observe the ball as it arrived at the planar edge of the Green Monster, meaning that MLB referred to his on-field ruling of "home run" for lack of evidence to indicate otherwise.
Related Post: Ask UEFL - Judging a Fly Ball as Fair or Foul (Video) (7/13/18).

Video as follows:

SEA Replay - Cubby's Pitching Motion Rules Check

In the wake of MLB's Carter Capps delivery rule, Chief Fieldin Culbreth's crew initiated a Replay Review Monday in Seattle regarding Mariners relief pitcher Cory Gearrin's motion in the 7th inning, supporting HP Umpire DJ Reyburn's initial assertion of an illegal pitching move as a result of a double-step during Gearrin's motion home.

What was the rule being discussed and was Reyburn's instinct correct?

Gearrin's Illegal Move: During warmups after entering Monday's A's-Mariners game, the right-handed Gearrin demonstrated his usual pitching motion: With his right foot (pivot foot) in contact with the pitcher's plate, Gearrin raised his left leg (free foot) before returning his free foot to the ground, slightly lifting this foot and moving it forward before planting further down the mound, and finally releasing the ball toward home plate.

The second step toward home is illegal.

Rule & Analysis: This is an illegal motion because of Official Baseball Rule 5.07(a) Comment's provision that "The pitcher may not take a second step toward home plate with either foot or otherwise reset his pivot foot in his delivery of the pitch. If there is a runner, or runners, on base it is a balk under Rule 6.02(a); if the bases are unoccupied it is an illegal pitch under Rule 6.02(b)." This rule applies for all pitching deliveries, regardless of whether the pitcher has opted to use Windup Position or to use Set Position.

The rule outlawing a second step toward home plate was added prior to the 2017 season in response to former big league pitcher Carter Capps' unique crow-hop delivery in which he reset his pivot in delivery of the pitch.
Related Post: Carter Capps Throws Illegal Pitch, Ejected After Hitting Ump (6/26/17).

Scott Servais disputes the crew's call.

For what it's worth, 6.02(a) simply states that such an illegal pitch is a balk with runners on base, while 6.02(b) states that the penalty for an illegal pitch with the bases unoccupied shall be a ball added to the count.

Preventative Officiating: Thus, Reyburn's instinct was correct—Gearrin's two-step maneuver is illegal and is more severe than a simple "don't do that" instruction; had Gearrin double-tapped his free foot during gameplay, it would have been an illegal pitch.

DJ Reyburn signals for a Replay Review.

Replay Review: After Reyburn informed Gearrin that his motion was illegal, protestation from Seattle brought the umpiring crew of Reyburn, Culbreth, Paul Nauert, and CB Bucknor together, which, after discussion with Mariners Manager Scott Servais, opted to initiate a Crew Chief Review for a rules check relative to OBR 5.07(a) and 6.02(b).

Six minutes? I'm with Dee Gordon (at 3:29).

After a two-and-a-half minute review, New York returned a verdict that confirmed Reyburn's suspicion, and Gearrin subsequently altered his pitching motion such that his free foot remained off the ground until reaching its final landing place, thus satisfying Rule 5.07(a) Comment's requirement that the pitcher not "take a second step toward home plate with either foot."

Total Delay & Pace of Play: The entire process took about six minutes from Reyburn's initial conversation with Gearrin until the resumption of play.

The game then proceeded and concluded without further incident (until Reyburn ejected Athletics Manager Bob Melvin an inning later following a ball four call and game-tying home run).
Related Post: MLB Ejection 054 - DJ Reyburn (1; Bob Melvin) (5/13/19).

Video as follows:

Repeat - Abreu Out for Passing Anderson During HR

Every once in awhile, an odd play occurs in MLB that we've seen before. Friday night, White Sox first baseman Jose Abreu passed baserunner Tim Anderson during a home run, resulting in an RBI single—a passing Replay Review scenario we wrote extensively about during a 2016 Case Play in Chicago.

Friday, April 26, 2019: With R1 and R3 with one out, White Sox batter Jose Abreu hits a home run. Baserunner R1 Tim Anderson, afraid the high fly ball may be caught in the outfield, retreats to tag up at first base, causing Abreu to momentarily pass Anderson on the bases. Originally no-called by 1B Umpire Tony Randazzo, the ruling was overturned via Replay Review, upon which Abreu was declared out for having passed Anderson, granting Detroit an out and saving the Tigers one run.

After the game, White Sox Manager Rick Renteria said, "That's the first time I've ever seen it." Too bad Renteria wasn't the White Sox skipper before 2017.

Case Play 2016-11: Runners Passing.

September 10, 2016: Three years earlier, also in Chicago, with one out and one on (R1), White Sox batter Tyler Saladino hit a fly ball to left-center field, where the ball eluded Royals outfielder Jarrod Dyson, bouncing on the warning track and out of play for a two-base award. Similarly, Chicago baserunner R1 Leury Garcia retreated toward first base during the fly ball, causing Saladino to pass him on the bases.

The difference here is that Royals Manager Ned Yost challenged that batter-runner Saladino had passed baserunner Garcia prior to the ball going out of play. Though Saladino did pass Garcia, he did not pass Garcia prior to the ball going out of play. For this reason, the passing no-call was confirmed.

A prior passing scenario during a HR.

Analysis: It doesn't matter if the ball is dead or not, but it does matter how the manager phrases his challenge. MLB Replay Review regulations require the challenging manager to specify exactly what aspect of the play he is challenging.

As we extensively discussed in 2016, Rule 5.06(b)(4)(l) Comment states that runners are not relieved of baserunning responsibilities during dead balls, and OBR 5.09(b)(9) holds that a runner is out when passing a preceding runner not yet retired. The passed runner, naturally, is unaffected by his teammate's illegal action.

Passing can occur during a dead ball, but with replay, the manager must request review of the entire sequence, not just that which concerns a live ball.
Related Post: Case Play 2016-11 - Time to Pass a Runner [Solved] (9/16/16).

After 2016, the MLB Umpire Manual for 2017 wrote, concerning runners passing runners, "Runners passing are not protected from being called out in accordance with Rule 5.09(b)(9) by time being called or other dead ball situation (i.e ground-rule double, home run, etc.) if they are still in the act of running the bases."

Abreu passes Anderson at first base.

Conclusion: What is especially noteworthy, again, is how the 2016 challenge was phrased vs the 2019 version. In its result summary, MLB in 2016 wrote, "After review, the ruling on the field is CONFIRMED. The runner was not passed by another runner prior to the ball going out of play." Friday night, MLB wrote, "After review, the call on the field is OVERTURNED. There was passing runners."

In sum, managers, don't be too specific with the challenges. Yes, that could create headaches for an umpire trying to figure out what is being challenged, but by getting too cute, a technicality could mean the difference between an out and a run.

This is what we wrote in 2016:

NFHS vs NCAA vs OBR: All codes agree, passing can occur during a dead ball. However, only NFHS does not treat runner passing during a dead ball as a time play. PLAY: With two outs and two on, B1 hits a home run. After R3 scores, B1 passes R1 on the bases. Undeterred, R1 completes his HR trot and touches home plate. RULING: In NFHS, R3 & R1's runs both count. In NCAA & OBR, only R3's run counts due to the timing of the third out. NOTE: If the bases are loaded with two outs and B1 walks on a 3-2 pitch, after which R1 passes R2, then R3's run shall count whether or not he touched home plate prior to the third out, since he was forced home.

Video as follows:

Expect Anything - Angels Turn DP on NY's Weight Shift

In today's world of expanded instant replay, umpires are learning to expect anything such that the unexpected becomes just another baseball play. Wednesday night in Anaheim, the Angels challenged 2B Umpire Mike Everitt's ruling that a runner was safe at second base, finding on review that Yankees baserunner R2 Tyler Wade momentarily broke contact with the base while Angels infielder Andrelton Simmons applied a tag, resulting in an inning-ending double play.

Fielder Simmons tags runner Wade.

The Play: With one out and two on (R1, R2), Yankees batter Brett Gardner flew out to Angels center fielder Mike Trout, who threw back to the infield as New York's baserunners returned to their bases. As fielder Simmons walked the ball back toward his pitcher, he tagged NYY baserunner R2 Wade as Wade shifted his weight at second base, momentarily breaking contact with the base such that he found himself susceptible to Rule 5.09(b)(4)'s "Any runner is out when—He is tagged, when the ball is alive, while off his base."

Replay Review: After a four-minute review (remember, reviews are generally supposed to take no more than two minutes), the call was overturned and the runner declared out.
Related Post: 2017 Rules Mods, Including IBB Change, Announced (3/2/17).

Everitt checks the ball and runners.

Lesson: Be prepared for anything, "BE IN POSITION TO SEE EVERY PLAY" and "Keep your eye everlastingly on the ball while it is in play" (Rule 8.00 [General Instructions to Umpires]). In this situation, 2B Umpire Everitt was in position to observe the play—see how he moves at the 35-second mark, constantly checking the runners, his positioning, and, possibly, whether "Time" has been called (it has not; the ball is still live).

However, as we saw from the first-base mid camera angle, Simmons' tag was on the left field/opposite side of the base, such that, as the broadcasters surmised, it required the Replay Official to stitch together another camera so as to see the tag on the runner at the moment that the runner shifted his left foot off of second base.

For more on the philosophy of this literal game of inches on the bases, see the following article.
Related Post: Replay Rewind - Technically Correct or Spiritual Travesty? (6/9/18).

Video as follows:

Non-Review - West ALCS Crew's Infield Fair/Foul Overturn

After HP Umpire Vic Carapazza ruled a fair ball and out on Red Sox batter Jackie Bradley's batted ball in front of home plate, fielded by Astros catcher Martin Maldonado, during Game 2 of the Houston-Boston ALCS, chief Joe West's crew initiated Replay Review and overturned the apparently non-reviewable call following a conversation with Replay Official Bill Miller, Replay Assistant Paul Nauert, and, undoubtedly, a handful of replay and umpiring supervisors at MLBAM headquarters.

Joe West got the call right, but incorrectly?

With fair/foul balls in front of home plate not subject to Replay Review, how did West and crew legally reverse Carapazza's initial ruling, is this common sense and fair play, should MLB change its replay rules, and which member of West's crew stepped up and put on a master class in situation handling?

History, West's Replays at Home: It turns out that this isn't West's first time conducting a Rules Check on a batted ball that hit a batter in front of home plate—and just like Sunday, West's prior fair/foul batted ball rules check concerned a play deemed not reviewable. The only procedural difference was that the first time around, the home plate umpire's original ruling of "fair, out" stood. Obviously, Carapazza's original "fair, out" ruling Sunday night was changed to "foul ball."

West talks to Phillies skipper Pete Mackanin.

On May 14, 2017, HP Umpire Andy Fletcher ruled Phillies batter Cesar Hernandez out after he ran into his own bunted ball outside of the batter's box, a pretty standard call. Philadelphia wanted to challenge the umpire's judgment that the batter made contact with the batted ball outside of the batter's box, the umpires went to the headsets and returned with a "non-reviewable" verdict, meaning the out call stood. Washington's field microphones then picked up audio of West telling Mackanin that the play was not reviewable and, accordingly, that Philadelphia had not been charged a Manager's Challenge for the conversation with Replay HQ.
Related Video: PHI@WSH: Hernandez out after rules check (5/14/17).

The Baseball Rule: Both the Hernandez and Bradley plays refer to the same rule, which Boston's Bradley satisfied but Philadelphia's Hernandez did not: "If the batter is in a legal position in the batter’s box, see Rule 5.04(b)(5), and, in the umpire’s judgment, there was no intention to interfere with the course of the ball, a batted ball that strikes the batter or his bat shall be ruled a foul ball" (OBR 5.09(a)(7)).

Crews can always get together to get it right.

Umpire Conference and Replay Review: Ok, so Carapazza's original ruling that Bradley was out was incorrect, but umpires are not legally allowed to consult video. During the ensuing consultation, West gathered the crew's input and headed to the replay headsets. After an extended delay, West removed his headset and signaled the play a foul ball. There really is very little, other than Rule 5.09(a)(7) and perhaps 5.04(b)(5), regarding legal batter's box position, the crew could have used the Rules Check for (before "interference?" questions arise, recall that interference is similarly not reviewable...plus, the batter-runner was put out regardless).

Sidebar: Joe West is the first umpire to conduct two Rules Checks regarding the same rule 5.09(a)(7).

The Replay Regulation: As it pertains to the chopper in front of home plate and whether or not the batted ball subsequently hit the batter after the bat is not subject to Replay Review—this has been the case since Day 1 of expanded replay in 2014. The relevant regulation is V.C., which states, in part, "Calls involving a decision regarding whether a batted ball was "A FOUL BALL," within the meaning of the Official Baseball Rule's Definition of Terms (formerly Rule 2.00) but only with respect to balls that first land at or beyond the set positions of the first or third base Umpire."
Related Post: MLB Releases Replay Review Regulations for 2014 Season (3/31/14).

Before we begin the philosophical analysis, let's clearly state our position here: this play should be reviewable. When we wrote about ways to improve replay in January 2017, adding more things to the review arsenal featured prominently. First and foremost under that bullet point? "Fair/fouls in the infield."
Related Post: Tmac's Teachable Moments - Let's Fix Replay (1/19/17).

Analysis: This play is clearly not subject to Replay Review and it seems curious that West would signal "foul ball" only after removing the headset. Umpires are permitted (as they have been for years) to get together themselves and elect to reverse a call based solely on crew input, without video influence. Mechanically, if this is what occurred, West is in a tough spot: the play is not reviewable, so MLBAM can't inform West of the video, but if West were to initiate a Crew Chief Review based on the concept of a "Rules Check," there stands a chance West's call of foul vs out depends on the outcome of said Rules Check.

That said, mechanically speaking, this is a reversal of a call initiated by the on-field crew, which means HP Umpire Carapazza should have optically been the one to signal "foul ball" (Replay Review is the only time that a Crew Chief should visually appear to be "overruling" another on-field umpire). The crew should likely have had an on-field ruling ready to go prior to initiating its Crew Chief Review.

Mark Carlson speaks with AJ Hinch.

Crew Chief Carlson: What slips under the radar here as the TBS broadcasters note that Astros Manager AJ Hinch would have a grievance if the call were to be reviewed and overturned, and West and Carapazza are on the headset with New York, is that 2B Umpire Mark Carlson has come over and speaks with Hinch, remaining with Houston's skipper for a majority of the Replay Review process.

After West removes the headset and rules the play "foul," Hinch, who could have easily blown up about the call's reversal, calmly walks back to his dugout as Carlson jogs back to his position. This is an underrated piece of situation handling that speaks to Carlson's leadership abilities as a number two, even when this ALCS crew's true number two (other than Bill Miller, who was the Replay Official tonight in New York) is LF Umpire and regular season crew chief Mark Wegner.

Philosophy: So onto the value of getting the call right: We know full well that Carapazza's fair/out call was in error and the ultimate decision of "foul ball" was correct. "Rules Check" not withstanding, our only question is whether it's worth it to disregard the Replay Review regulations that specifically prohibit reviewing this exact play in order to get the call right. Remember, we want this play to be reviewable—and on this site we've been hoping for four years that MLB would add fair/foul in the infield to its list of reviewable plays—but under the current code, this play is simply not eligible for video review.

Hypothetically, if an umpire makes a clearly erroneous call on a play that, pursuant to regulation, cannot be reviewed, is it ever acceptable to disregard the regulation and review the play anyway?

If your answer is "YES," read on (also read on if your answer is not "YES").

Andy Green was ejected arguing a non-review.

History, Replays at Home: This isn't the first time MLB has had some trouble with plays near home plate.

On September 16, 2018, 3B Umpire Fieldin Culbreth ejected Padres Manager Andy Green after the Replay Official denied Green's request to review a fair/foul call at home plate. As Rangers batter Robinson Chirinos attempted to check his swing, the pitched ball made contact with his bat and/or hand, ruled a foul ball by HP Umpire Ryan Blakney. By rule, in order for this to be a foul ball, Blakney would have had to rule that the pitched ball hit Chirinos' bat and then hit Chirinos' hand (see the aforementioned Rule 5.09(a)(7)). Green's attempted challenge concerned whether the ball was actually fair—whether, after hitting the bat, the ball touched Chirinos or not. When informed by Culbreth that MLBAM's Replay Operations Center had rejected the review, Green vehemently argued to the point of ejection.
Related Post: MLB Ejection 168 - Fieldin Culbreth (3; Andy Green) (9/16/18).

Pursuant to the Green standard, Sunday's ALCS Game 2 play was not reviewable. Or, alternatively, someone should explain to Andy Green what happened Sunday night relative to what happened on September 16 in San Diego and why his call wasn't reversed but Sunday night's call was.

John Farrell was not happy about his rejection.

On May 25, 2017, on-field umpires accepted Boston's challenge that Texas' Nomar Mazara was hit by a pitch on a swinging third strike (HP Umpire Chad Fairchild had initially ruled the play a swinging strikeout and wild pitch, which had allowed the batter-runner to reach first base). The Replay Official incorrectly deemed the play non-reviewable when it should have been subject to Replay Review because it involved the question of whether a batter was hit by a pitched ball. Had the play been reviewed, Mazara would have been out due to the deal ball strike, rather than on first base. By contrast, whether a batter (or runner) is hit by a batted ball is never reviewable.
Related Post: MLB Admits Error on Swinging HBP Strike Non-Review (5/26/17).

So there you have it and it all seems to point back to our Tmac's Teachable from January 2017: if we want to fix replay, let's just make more things reviewable. That way we avoid this technicality mess that sometimes produces more arguments than it solves. Until then, somebody explain to Green why his play wasn't reviewed.

Video as follows:

Tmac's Teachable Moments - Video Analysis of Four Plays

This edition of Tmac's Teachable Moments is an audio commentary with video of four Replay Review plays that occurred in MLB. First, we see Ben May patiently time an out call on a caught stealing at second base, then 1B Umpire Carlos Torres makes sure a fly ball is caught, James Hoye officiates a banger at first, and Chris Conroy anticipates a potential play at third base and is in great position to rule on a no-look tag attempt.

Podcast Video Minisode 4VM is a Teachable.

Introducing Audio Commentary: The following Teachable is available in audio form via this post and also via our RSS setup for The Plate Meeting Podcast. This episode is a Video Minisode and is labeled Episode 4VM.

Play 1: Our first play features 2B Umpire Ben May officiating a tag play during a stolen base attempt in Texas. Our runner, wearing the protective sliding "oven mitt" over his hand, appears to slide headfirst directly into the fielder's foot, which is guarding the base.

Sidebar: Because the fielder has the ball, there is no "obstruction" conversation to be had.

Watch May wait to make a call as he gets himself a good look as to whether the runner was able to reach the base ahead of the tag. After running the play through and confirming what he has seen, May signals the out, which is affirmed via Replay Review.

Carlos Torres observes a catch in Houston.

Play 2: Next up is 1B Umpire Carlos Torres on a line drive to right field, caught by our Diamondbacks right fielder in Houston during a tumbling head-over-heels catch that takes his glove to all sides, meaning that 2B Umpire Mark Carlson may potentially need to help out as the glove and bare hand holding onto the baseball rotated out of Torres' sight.

Like May in Arlington, Torres in Houston waits to make a call, appears to take a quick look at his crewmate to make sure the ball hasn't fallen out, and finally comes up with the out. This call is confirmed on review thanks in great part to the multiple replay angles that allow us to see that the fielder possessed the ball the entire time, and that it did not hit the grass. On the field, we're only allowed one angle in realtime, and potentially—by visually communicating with a crewmate—an additional angle that can help settle the call.

James Hoye signals safe on the play at first.

Play 3: 1B Umpire James Hoye has to officiate three aspects of a play within a matter of three tenths of a second. First, he has a fair/foul decision on a batted ball, then he has a catch/no catch consideration, and finally (the most challenging call), he has to determine whether the runner made it back to first base before being put out by the fielder's tag attempt on what we call a "reverse force" play in our replay shorthand.

The play explodes in close quarters at first base and with so many things happening at once, it's important to see the big picture. The most important call here will be the safe/out on the tag attempt, and it is vital to stay engaged throughout the play by anticipating the tag issue before it happens. Hoye does this here, is able to exclude the mitt laces from consideration of out/safe, and comes up with a quick safe call that is affirmed after review.

Chris Conroy moves to see the tag play.

Play 4: Finally, 3B Umpire Chris Conroy in San Diego prepares for a potential play at third base on an infield grounder up the right foul line. With a runner at second, we know there is no force play at third, such that the fielder will have to tag the runner if the defense does decide to try for the out at third base. That's precisely what happens, and Conroy moves into position, looking for the keyhole angle that best serves him in being able to see the important aspect of the play: did the runner get to third base and did the fielder tag the runner?

This anticipation and preparedness ahead of the play allows Conroy and the other umpires to best position themselves for these close plays, and to time their calls just right so as to support the highest level of accuracy.

Ben May (Play 1) stays with the tag at second.

In Conclusion, it all starts with your starting position. Where will you want to be at the crack of the bat—or a potential pickoff play—and where will you need to go on a mile-a-minute play like Hoye's in St. Louis? Second, be prepared for anything. If you're the third base umpire and there's a runner on second, be like Conroy and assume the next play will be at third base, even if that probability is realistically low...it still could happen, just like it did in San Diego. Finally, call what you see after you make darn well sure of what it is that you did see. Whether that means waiting to replay the sequence before coming up with a confident call like May or taking a quick peek at your partner like Torres, make sure of what you have and practice good timing when making your call.

Until next time, Happy Umpiring, Everyone!

Video as follows:

Replay Rewind - Hollywood Magic at Dodger Stadium

Something about Dodger Stadium's Hollywood magic fooled LA's video replay coordinator on Monday for the second time this season. With the Mets in Los Angeles, a Todd Frazier non-catch and Alex Verdugo legal failure to touch a base are our two featured non-reviews in today's edition of Replay Rewind.

Frazier may not have actually caught the ball.

Play #1 (Frazier's Sleight of Hand): In the 2nd inning of Monday's Mets-Dodgers game, Mets infielder Todd Frazier ranged to his right in pursuit of a foul fly ball off the bat of Dodgers hitter Alex Verdugo, leaping into the stands along the short wall in foul territory and appearing to complete a remarkable catch for the third out of the inning, called as such by 3B Umpire Mark Wegner.

Analysis #1: As SNY's own investigation discovered, however, Frazier, in crashing into the stands, had knocked a second baseball-like sphere out of a fan's bag and onto the ground, where Frazier's quick sleight of hand was good enough to fool not just Wegner, but the Dodgers as well, who failed to challenge the play (it was both an issue of catch in the outfield and a boundary call).

Mike DiMuro calls an out in 2012.

Related: We all remember when 3B Umpire Mike DiMuro ejected Indians player Jack Hannahan after he ruled Hannahan out on a fly ball to Yankees left fielder Dewayne Wise, who jumped into the stands and feigned a catch, all while a fan nearby held up the game ball as DiMuro held up his fist. After the game, DiMuro conceded that the ball was dropped and said, "In hindsight, I should have asked [Wise] to show me the ball since he fell into the stands and out of my line of vision."
Related Post: Ejection 078: Mike DiMuro (2) (6/12/18).

As for Wegner, the old switcheroo would have made even this "show me the ball" approach susceptible to error, lest we ask our umpires to now ask to examine the ball to make sure it's the genuine article after each highlight-reel grab.

As it stands, in magic terminology, magician Frazier successfully completed his sleight of hand through a crash-filled misdirection that drew everyone's attention away from the actual game ball.

As Penn & Teller: Fool Us would say, Todd Frazier is a Fooler.

The runner has missed his physical base touch.

Play #2 (Verdugo's Missed Base; NYM's Missed Appeal) : With the Mets leading 4-1 in the bottom of the 9th inning, Dodgers batter Alex Verdugo kick-started a potential comeback with a single up the middle. With Verdugo at first base, ensuing batter Cody Bellinger hit a line drive down the first base line, ruled foul by 1B Umpire Ryan Blakney. Upon Replay Review, the call was reversed to a fair ball, with Verdugo placed at third and Bellinger at first.

Analysis #2: Though the main points of contention here are whether the line drive landed at or past Blakney's position (it did; had it not, the play would not have been eligible for review) and whether batter Bellinger should have been awarded a double or single (because the bounding ball appeared to carom directly to the right fielder, the batter-runner was held at first base), this analysis has absolutely nothing to do with either of those issues.

Instead, we look at an innocuous baserunning quirk that came into being thanks in part to a humorous play from a 2012 overturned replay call.

When Wegner removed the headsets and signaled the baserunning awards, Verdugo and Bellinger were gathered together at first base, but shortly thereafter, Verdugo cut across the diamond without touching second base.

Although Rule 5.06(b)(4)(I) Comment states:

The fact a runner is awarded a base or bases without liability to be put out does not relieve him of the responsibility to touch the base he is awarded and all intervening bases. For example: Batter hits a ground ball which an infielder throws into the stands but the batter-runner missed first base. He may be called out on appeal for missing first base after the ball is put in play even though he was 'awarded' second base.

And 5.09(c)(2) continues: "Any runner shall be called out, on appeal, when—With the ball in play, while advancing or returning to a base, he fails to touch each base in order before he, or a missed base, is tagged," with 5.06(b)(1)'s "In advancing, a runner shall touch first, second, third and home base in order"), the Mets didn't bother appealing Verdugo's clear miss of second. What would have precluded the Mets from appealing this play?

Morse's "HR" complied with touch rules.

Runner Legally Allowed to Skip Over Base: It turns out that when a runner is awarded a base via replay, the Replay Official's placement of the runner carries with it a legal touch of any intermediary bases (in this case, second), such that Verdugo is assumed to have legally touched second base en route to third, because the Replay Official determined that he would have achieved third base had the original ruling been proper.

According to a credible source with knowledge, the runner's requirement to physically touch bases during the dead ball period after a replay decision was eliminated after a bit of fun six years ago involving the Washington Nationals.

Morse Code: Remember Michael Morse's grand slam in 2012, originally ruled in play and overturned to a home run via (limited) instant replay? There's a reason Jeff Nelson's crew sent Morse back to home plate to mime his four-bagger, with Morse touching every base during the course of his phantom HR trot. It's the same reason that a plate umpire remains on the field during a walk-off home run until the batter touches home plate.

The ball being dead doesn't absolve the runner of legal baserunning responsibility, and at the time, Morse (and all other runners) were required to touch their bases after review.
Related Link: Michael Morse hits a replacement home run with an imaginary ball (WAS)

At some point after the Morse play, however, runners were absolved of their responsibility to touch each intervening base in order after a Replay Review—maybe as a time-saving precaution, or perhaps as an effort to ensure that no runner was put at a disadvantage as the result of an overturned Replay Review decision. If the Replay Official places R1 at third base, R1 can go directly to third without touching second.

As fate would have it, the last missed base (that was, in fact, a missed appeal as well) occurred at Dodger Stadium earlier this season as Los Angeles failed to appeal Phillies baserunner Maikel Franco's failure to touch home plate as he scored a run on May 31. Unlike the Verdugo play, Franco was required to touch home plate (since this occurred during the play itself and didn't involve the dead ball period during Replay) and the non-appeal proved quite costly for LA, as the Dodgers lost to Philadelphia, 2-1.
Related Post: Video Loss - Failure to Appeal Costs LA Run, Game (5/31/18).

It must be that Hollywood magic in LA.

Conclusion & Gil's Call: What this all stresses in this modern era of expanded video review is the importance of hiring an observant and inquisitive video coordinator—someone in the clubhouse that is dedicated to reviewing every intricacy of every play. You never know when that missed out or run will come back to bite you.

Just ask the Dodgers vs Philly on May 31.

Then again, you never know when a player will swap out a fake baseball and try to pass it off as... you get the idea.

Sidebar: Didn't that used to be called the old Potato-into-Left-Field trick care of Double-A catcher Dave Bresnahan who, during an Eastern League game, carried a peeled potato with him onto the field and, with a runner on third, threw it wildly down the line, drawing the runner toward home plate, where Bresnahan was waiting to apply a tag.

HP Umpire Scott Potter awarded the runner home for Bresnahan's deception, and the Cleveland Indians organization released Bresnahan the very next day for his travesty of the game antics.

For what it's worth, in terms of Team Success Percentage (TSP), the Dodgers are the 18th-most successful team in MLB when it comes to Replay Review, while the Mets are 20th in the league (Kansas City is 1st, San Francisco 2nd, New York-AL 3rd). In terms of raw number of overturned calls, through September 4, the Dodgers are ranked 19th and the Mets 26th (KC 1st, Cubs 2nd, Yankees 3rd). For more, visit our Replay Review Stats page.
Related Link: MLB Umpire Replay Review Statistics and Sabermetrics.

Who's the best replay coordinator in baseball? That's easy. Kansas City's Billy Duplissea has consistently placed his Royals in the top spot on our Replay Review teams' leaderboard for several years running. As Ned Yost once said, "He's just really, really good."

Video as follows: