NEW YORK -- The Diamondbacks have a simple mantra when it comes to whether or not they should challenge a pitch using the new ABS Challenge System: If you know, you go.
The caveat being that "knowing" must mean you're absolutely certain.
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The rest of the criteria revolves around the situation -- if it's a critical moment of the game, you can be less certain and still challenge. And, finally, manager Torey Lovullo wants to make sure one of the team's two challenges remains for the final three innings of a game.
In the fifth inning on Tuesday at Citi Field, Adrian Del Castillo was facing Huascar Brazobán with two outs and the bases loaded. With a 1-2 count, Brazobán uncorked a 97.4 mph fastball that home-plate umpire Brian O'Nora ruled caught the inside part of the plate, and so he called Del Castillo out on strikes to end the inning.
Del Castillo, who has had experience with the challenge system as both a hitter and a catcher, did not hesitate, and immediately tapped his helmet. It met Lovullo's criteria -- Del Castillo had reasonable certainty, and it would be a high-impact reversal.
The graphic on the scoreboard showed that the pitch missed by 0.3 inches off the inside corner of the plate. Del Castillo -- and the inning itself -- was still alive.
"I mean, I knew it was kind of borderline, and I just took a chance there and it ended up going our way," Del Castillo said.
Del Castillo was given a second life at the plate and he made the most of it, as he ripped the next pitch into right field for a two-run single. Arizona would tack on a run to grab a 3-2 lead.
Though the D-backs would eventually lose, 4-3, on a walk-off hit by Ronny Mauricio, the Del Castillo challenge showed how the new system can swing the momentum of a game.
"It plays a big factor, big role," Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. "At the very beginning of Spring Training, when we were having those meetings and conversations with players, the mental side -- that particular spot right there, when there's traffic, when there's runners on and you think you executed a pitch, you get the call, and then the hitter challenges and you've got to get back on the mound -- that's not an easy situation. And it's new for all of us here. You think you're out of the woods, and before you know it, you've got to get back on the mound. They got him there. It was a really good challenge by them, close pitch. You've got to give them credit there."
The Diamondbacks were on the opposite side of that game-shifting momentum just last Friday, when Ryne Nelson thought he had Atlanta's Ozzie Albies struck out to open the fifth inning. Albies challenged the call and it was overturned, for a walk. That seemed to rattle Nelson just a bit, and the Braves went on to score eight runs in the inning.
"We're still learning to control our emotions,” Lovullo said after that game. “You’ve got to get back on the mound and get ready to compete as fast as possible. So, whether it did or didn't [affect him mentally], I haven't had a chance to talk to him, but I think it's got to be tough.”
Most of Del Castillo's challenges in the Minor Leagues were as a catcher, but he wasn't worried as he watched the graphic on the scoreboard because he figured at worst he'd be out and the pitch would be right on the corner.
"Honestly, I don't ever really use it as a hitter," Del Castillo said. "Unless I know it's a ball. In that case, bases loaded, two outs, it's a big situation, and that's a borderline pitch. Might as well try to get something out of it."