MLB's instant replay process is so excruciatingly long, it's difficult to defend even when the umpires get the calls right. So it's a complete waste of time when the calls are still wrong after the interminable review.
That was the case Monday in the Red Sox' 7-0 loss to the A's. The story of the night was once again the Sox' porous starting pitching, as David Price surrendered three home runs in six innings of work. Red Sox starters have given up 32 runs in 21 frames, which is the most in baseball.
But in the second inning, with the score tied at 0, Mitch Moreland smacked a line drive to center field. Bogaerts, who doubled, was racing towards home plate. Oakland center fielder Ramon Laureano unleashed a laser towards home and Bogaerts was called "out." The play was reviewed for two minutes and four seconds, allowing the head umpire to see Bogaerts' leg tagged home before catcher Nick Hundley's tag. The call should've been reversed.
Good work A's broadcast pic.twitter.com/jRcm2Tzvbu
— Red Sox Stats (@redsoxstats) April 2, 2019But somehow, Bogaerts was still ruled "out." The long replay review in the second inning during a late-night West Coast game on April 1 upheld an erroneous call.
Though this isn't a major incident, it's another sign of the many issues that plague baseball. The Red Sox have been a walking advertisement for these problems on their West Coast swing, with each game against the Mariners taking longer than three hours.
And in the series finale on Sunday, Seattle reliever Cory Gearrin took 10 minutes and 45 seconds to throw 16 pitches, with only four of them crossing the plate for strikes. Talk about a walking advertisement for the pitch clock.
Last October, the Red Sox showed us all that is good about baseball. Their games so far this season have displayed many of its warts.
