Replay not in season form for Phillies, Twins
FORT MYERS, Fla. -- The Phillies and Twins had two plays undergo video review in Sunday's 1-1 tie -- with John Mayberry Jr., at the center of both -- and another in the third that was not a candidate for MLB's expanded instant replay.
Mayberry led off the eighth inning with a ground ball to third baseman Brandon Waring, whose throw to first sailed over the head of first baseman Chris Colabello, caroming off the facing of the Phillies' dugout roof along the first-base line and back onto the field. Mayberry was awarded second base when the ball was ruled to have left the field of play. After a quick review, requested by Twins manager Ron Gardenhire to see if Mayberry should indeed be awarded second, the call stood.
Mayberry then took third on a sacrifice bunt by Tony Gwynn, Jr., the next batter, and broke for home on Ronny Cedeno's ground ball with shortstop Danny Santana attempting to throw out Mayberry at the plate. Catcher Chris Herrmann attempted to apply the tag, but home-plate umpire Bob Davidson called Mayberry safe with the tying run.
The play was reviewed for approximately two minutes and 20 seconds, but the video was ruled inconclusive and the call on the field was upheld.
"It was an interesting day with the video," Gardenhire said. "We got a 99 percent sure he was out from our guy [Twins director of Major League video Sean Harlin], but it was ruled inconclusive by their guy on the play at the plate. But I'm sure that's all going to change during the season with the system in New York. But right now, it's not a perfect system."
Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg had attempted to have a play reviewed earlier in the game, but there was no video available. On that play, Gwynn, who led off the third with a walk, was called out at second base on Cedeno's fielder's choice.
"This wasn't the real deal," Sandberg said of the review process. "There was a [video production] truck out here, and they got limited cameras. And then we had about a 45-second delay before we got anything. When I went out there at second, they had no replay. So it's not even close to the same [as what will be available in the regular season]."