Jeff McNeil was the subject of a rare shift violation during the Mets' walk-off win over the Yankees on Wednesday night, as home plate umpire Bill Miller ruled that McNeil had a foot on the left side of second base, meaning there were three infielders on that side.
So, Giancarlo Stanton, despite swinging and missing on the pitch, was awarded a ball instead.
McNeil was furious after the call, which didn't come back to bite the Mets as the Yanks couldn't get the runner across from second.
"From what I just read of the rule, it was not a violation," McNeil said, via Peter Botte of the New York Post. "It's when the pitcher releases the ball, I need to be on my side of second base, which I was. It's a little frustrating because what I was doing was not a violation.
"I'm doing my best to hold a runner…He's trying to take third there and I'm doing my best to keep him close and also field my position at the same time. I don't think that's what the rule is meant for. The rule is meant for having three people on one side of the base and trying to stop the hitter."
There had only been one other shift violation in the league so far this season, the first year with the new rules implemented to increase balls in play. McNeil, who was trying to hold on Anthony Volpe, had his foot slightly on the left side of second base when the ruling was made, and he didn't like it at all.
"It's so ticky-tack that it's not even something that we should be worrying about," McNeil said. "If you're playing defense right there, on that line, all the way back to the grass, where you're trying to toe the line, of course. But I was trying to stop him from getting third base. So that's a little frustrating."
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