San Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy learned the hard way just how crucial challenges are under Major League Baseball's new replay system Tuesday night, after his first career challenge on a pick-off play against the Arizona Diamondbacks was denied and he was unable to protest a scoring play moments later.
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According to MLB.com, Bochy unsuccessfully challenged a safe pick-off call when the umpiring crew upheld their original call. Moments later, the D-Backs scored on a close play at the plate, and Bochy was unable to challenge the play since it was prior to the seventh inning and he lost his ability to request further challenges.
Had it been the seventh inning or later, the crew chief would have been able to request an instant replay review.
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"This is going to be a critical part of the game," Bochy told MLB.com after the game.
With Gerardo Parra at the dish, and Giants right-hander Matt Cain on the mound, Cain attempted to pick-off A.J. Pollock at first base. Pollock was called safe, leading to Bochy coming out to challenge the play. The umpires reviewed it and the call was upheld, costing Bochy any further challenges.
Parra then doubled to right, bringing Pollock to third base. Aaron Hill was next up and Cain threw a pitch that got passed Buster Posey, leading to Pollock breaking for the plate. Cain ran to cover the plate and slapped a tag on Hill in a bang-bang play. Hill was ruled safe and all Bochy could do was stand idle.
Pollock said it was a "weird play" and discussed the call.
"Everyone is saying I was out," he told MLB.com. "I kind of did a kick stop and hop over the glove there, and I kept looking at the replay. I didn't feel a tag and I kept looking. It was a pretty gutsy call by the umpire, but I think he got it right."
The play is likely to spark controversy with the new replay system as the MLB has the technology to review it but is handcuffed by its own rules after Bochy missed a challenge. Still, teams have hired people to sit and watch the replays and tell a manager whether or not to challenge a certain play, so the Giants could have had better communication and kept their challenge.
Bochy left the dugout to argue the call, but knew he couldn't challenge the play.
"That's what you call a hang with 'em," Bochy said per MLB.com. "You can't do anything at that point because you've already lost your challenge. This is how the system works and you understand that. Would I have changed anything? No. You don't know whether you're going to get another call when you wish you could challenge."
Bochy, like many other managers undoubtedly will this season, learned the importance of choosing what to challenge.
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