Things once again got heated in MLB when the New York Mets took on the Chicago Cubs at Citi Field on Wednesday night. The Cubs would edged out the Mets 1-0, after a controversial call went in their favor which left Carlos Mendoza fuming. The Mets coach would later get into a heated argument with the umpires.
In a tight game, the New York Mets found themselves in a good position to level up the game as Jeff McNeil came up to bat. With runners on second and third base and one out, McNeil would manage a fly out which saw Pete Alonso, take off from third base and head home on a sacrifice fly.
As Alonso slid in to reach the plate, Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya positioned himself to receive the catch and placed one foot on the plate. While Alonso was able to slip his hands under the legs of Amaya, who would tag him, the umpires ruled it out, leading to strong reaction from the Mets bench.
The New York side would later challenge the call. Unfortunately, the review did not go in their favor and the on field call stood which resulted in a Chicago Cubs victory.
Chaos at the end of Cubs-Mets!
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) May 2, 2024
Replay ruled that the Cubs didn't block the plate and that Pete Alonso was out to end the game pic.twitter.com/eHxAGn5hU6
Needless to say, Carlos Mendoza was not pleased with the decision and went on to have a word with the umpires. In a hot mic incident, the 44-year-old was heard calling the decision as “bulls---.”
The rule says you cannot stand on home plate without the baseball. That’s bulls---, man. That’s bulls---.
Carlos Mendoza was heard saying.
During the post-match conference, the focus was obviously going to be on what Carlos Mendoza had to say about the decision that went against them. The Mets coach would disagree with the call of the officials and claimed that they got it “wrong“.
Mendoza would go on to explain that they all got a memo during the Spring training on what is legal and illegal. He would further claim that catchers are “not allowed” to have a foot on the home plate while trying to receive a throw.
They send out a memo in Spring Training, what’s legal and what’s illegal. It’s clearly on that email, that memo that we got, that catchers are not allowed to have their foot in front of the plate, on top of the plate. They cannot straddle without possession of the baseball. It was very clear that (Amaya) had his left foot on top of the plate without the baseball. I think they got the wrong call.
Carlos Mendoza said as per SNY.
"I think they got the wrong call"
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 2, 2024
Carlos Mendoza says Miguel Amaya blocked the plate according to the rules memo sent out by the league before Spring Training pic.twitter.com/zw2DhD4WJ1
The replay center would later release a statement regarding this decision. As per them, no violation had taken place and that Amaya’s setup was legal.
The catcher's initial setup was legal and he moved into the lane in reaction to the trajectory of the incoming throw. The call is confirmed, as it is not a violation. An MLB statement from the Replay Center read.
An MLB statement from the Replay Center:
— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 2, 2024
After viewing all relevant angles, the Replay Official definitively determined that no violation of the Home Plate Collision Rule occurred. The catcher's initial setup was legal and he moved into the lane in reaction to the trajectory of… pic.twitter.com/5K7nEYZ9gP
It is likely that the debate regarding this decision will carry on for a while. The Mets, who are now 15-15 for the season, will try to pick themselves up from this setback and hope to split the series with the Cubs on Thursday night.
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