For those who oppose instant replay and hunger for the “human element” in Major League Baseball, a heaping helping was served early Wednesday morning in Atlanta. Now, for a spoonful of sugar to wash it down . . .
The league and umpire Jerry Meals agree Meals made the wrong call in the Braves’ 4-3, 19-inning victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Meals ruled that Pittsburgh catcher Mike McKenry failed to tag Julio Lugo in the bottom of the 19th, allowing Atlanta to score the winning run. Replays show McKenry clearly tagging Lugo before the baserunner reached the plate. The Pirates filed a formal complaint hours after the longest game (6 hours, 39 minutes) in team history.
“Most in the game recognize that the human element always will be part of baseball and instant replay can never replace all judgment calls by umpires,” MLB executive vice president for baseball operations Joe Torre said.
Tell that to Pirates fans, who are craving for a winning season for the first time in 19 years. In the thick of a surprising National League Central race with Milwaukee and St. Louis, the loss pushed the resurgent Pirates one game behind the first-place Cardinals.
