Tigers broadcasters question replay calls that favored Mets

Tigers broadcaster Jason Benetti questioned the decisions coming out of Major League Baseball’s replay office after two calls went against Detroit in a 9-4 loss to the Mets.

The Mets completed a three-game sweep Thursday. The first disputed play came in the fourth inning when Tigers manager A.J. Hinch was ejected after arguing a call at third base. The next inning, replay officials in New York overturned a call at first base, prompting immediate criticism from the Detroit broadcast booth.

“This is going to get ugly in a hurry,” color analyst Andy Dirks said after the home-plate umpire announced the reversal. Benetti added that the Tigers had reason to feel the calls were not going their way. “The first one was ridiculous. The first one should have been safe. This one, I just don’t know that we’ve seen clear proof of anything,” he said.

Dirks pressed the point further. “If that one wasn’t clear proof at third, how do you have clear proof at first? I’m just beside myself with trying to understand what these rules mean and who’s got discretion of what,” he said.

MLB posted multiple camera angles of the plays on its website. The Mets broadcast also indicated the runner at third was safe, but replay officials upheld the out call. The fifth-inning reversal appeared correct based on the footage released by the league.