Controversial umpire decision raises eyebrows in Yankees-Guardians game

It looked like the bottom of the first inning was over after Yankees center fielder Aaron Hicks made a sliding play, and then doubled up the runner on second. This would have also prevented the runner, Steven Kwan, from scoring and keeping the game 0-0. But the umpire crew did something during commercial break that raised a lot of questions.

Yankees-Guardians game draws attention for the wrong reasons

After both teams jogged off the field the play was shown on the scoreboard, and both Cleveland manager Terry Francona and the fans saw that Hicks clearly trapped the ball, the umpires allowed Francona to challenge the play. It was successfully challenged, and Yankees starter Clarke Schmidt and the rest of the defense had to come out onto the field and resume the bottom half of the first, needing to record two more outs.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was obviously enraged by this decision. Per MLB rules, managers now have 15 seconds to challenge a play on the field. Generally, they hold their hand up to the umpire to signify they are thinking about challenging, and then it is up to them to challenge or not.

No such indication was given by Francona to any umpire, and it was only after the replay was shown for everyone to see that the challenge was issued, far after the 15 second rule. This brings up a discussion in MLB, are the rules the rules … or can the crew chief change them on their own discretion?

Not only was this rule flagrantly disregarded, but it took several minutes to sort out and explain the situation of what was happening, thereby delaying the game further and taking away from something that MLB has been trying to emphasize: pace of play. To add insult to injury, Schmidt came back out to allow another run, and Cleveland went from not scoring at all, to being up 2-0 after the first concluded.

It should be an interesting discussion and decision to see what the MLB has to say on the matter.