Controversial game-ending play leads to hot mic argument

Wednesday’s game between the Chicago Cubs and New York Mets ended with a close play at the plate, a replay review and a hot mic argument between umpire and manager.

With his Mets trailing 1-0 to the Cubs in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jeff McNeil came to the plate with one out and runners on second and third. McNeil flew out to left fielder Ian Happ. As soon as Happ caught the ball, Mets star Pete Alonso broke from third as the tying run. Happ hit cutoff man Nick Madrigal, who turned and fired home to catcher Miguel Amaya. Home plate umpire Charlie Ramos ruled that Alonso was tagged before reaching the plate and called the runner out, ending the game.

Alonso instantly signaled for the play to be reviewed and Mets manager Carlos Mendoza agreed, quickly asking for a replay. Two critical elements of the play were looked at. One, did the tag really beat Alonso? Two, was Amaya illegally blocking home? The review center ruled in favor of the Cubs in both cases, upholding the out call to end the game.

Mendoza quickly came out to argue with crew chief Chad Fairchild, who announced the call. With that, we got a hot mic for most of the discussion.

Fairchild repeatedly noted that the umpires on the field have no say in whether a call is upheld or reversed once it goes to replay.

“I’m not in replay. I’m telling you what they told me,” Fairchild said.

“But who says that you cannot stand on home plate without the baseball?” Mendoza asked.

“I’m not arguing with you, Carlos. But I’m saying, I don’t see that,” Fairchild responded.

“That’s ********,” Mendoza replied.

“Hey, take that up with the office,” Fairchild said before the mic was turned off.

The discussion continued for a few more seconds before Mendoza and Fairchild went their separate ways.

In a statement defending the call, the MLB Replay Center said ( per SNY ), “The Replay Official determined that no violation of the Home Plate Collision Rule occurred. The catcher’s initial setup was legal and he moved into the lane in reaction to the trajectory of the incoming throw.”

SNY’s Andy Martino disputed that, citing a memo from spring training, which included visuals.

[SNY on Twitter/X , Photo Credit: SNY]

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