Chicago – It was the biggest non-strikeout since Brooklyn Dodgers catcher Mickey Owen dropped a costly third strike in the ninth inning of Game 4 of the 1941 World Series against the New York Yankees.
But even after Angels catcher Josh Paul was charged with a controversial dropped third strike in the ninth inning of Wednesday night’s Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, it was hard to find anyone to endorse installing instant replay to review close postseason calls.
“No, I’m not in favor of replay at all, certainly not on something like that,” Los Angeles manager Mike Scioscia said. “There might be some replay that can come in on a home run – fair or foul – or fan interference or something like that. But as far as plays around the bases or home plate or pitches like that, I don’t think replay is anything we should bring into the game.”
Paul, who was adamant that he held onto the third strike that would have sent the game into extra innings, didn’t want to discuss what-ifs.
“I don’t want to talk about replay now,” he said. “All I know is that we had the third out.”
Angels first baseman Darin Erstad said he would never endorse instant replay.
“I like the game the way it is,” he said. “I don’t think they should change it. All I know is that being an umpire is a very tough job.”
Three brothers
Baseball is built on history, and Wednesday the Molina brothers wrote their own chapter when all three of the Puerto Rican-born catchers started in a league championship series game.
In Chicago, Bengie Molina, 31, started as the Angels’ designated hitter, while younger brother Jose, 30, was Los Angeles’ starting catcher.
In the National League Championship Series in St. Louis, baby brother Yadier, 23, started behind the plate for the Cardinals vs. the Houston Astros.
Bengie and Jose had already made brotherly history in 2002 when they became the fourth set of siblings to appear on the same team in a World Series game. Before the Molina brothers, the last time that happened was when Felipe and Matty Alou played for San Francisco in the 1962 World Series.
