Dodgers News: Mattingly Says Replay Reviews Have Been ‘Unpredictable’

Seemingly what’s become the norm happened again Tuesday night — the Los Angeles Dodgers were stung by replay review.

This one night after a questionable Yasmany Tomas home run was upheld, the Arizona Diamondbacks benefitted on an out being overturned. It merely resulted in a leadoff infield single for Rubby De La Rosa in the third inning that didn’t amount to anything.

While conventional wisdom suggests De La Rosa beat Turner’s throw, the replays, at least those shown on the Time Warner Cable SportsNet LA broadcast, didn’t capture a shot of the ball hitting Adrian Gonzalez’s glove with De La Rosa’s foot on the bag; Gonzalez’s outstretched arm was out of the picture.

Mattingly didn’t protest the ruling with as much disdain as he did on the Tomas home run, but it was nonetheless another reminder to the issues he’s openly discussed regarding the replay review system. In the hours leading up to first pitch Tuesday, Mattingly again shared his dissatisfaction with replay, according to Bill Plunkett of the OC Register:

It’s definitely more unpredictable this year,” he said before Tuesday’s game at Chase Field. “Replay, in general, is not as predictable. Last year when you challenged, you pretty much knew when you were going to win or lose. I don’t know (why). That part I don’t know. But it’s definitely not as predictable this year.”

Mattingly continued by echoing a similar thought Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon recently expressed, which is involving an independent party:

Whoever’s making those calls … that should be a third party, not connected to the umpires or the players or anybody else,” he said. “I would like to see less gray area type stuff. I don’t like the ‘Inconclusive’ (rulings). If you’ve got 14, 15 different views and slo-mo cameras then just say ‘Safe’ or ‘Out.’ Then that call determines whether the call stands or not.”

The fifth-year manager added the Dodgers have challenged calls more freely this season with little concern over potentially needing a challenge in their back pocket, which Mattingly said isn’t an issue the club hasn’t run into.

Of the 20 calls the Dodgers have challenged this season only five have been overturned. It should be noted included in their unsuccessful attempts is a Giancarlo Stanton diving catch that was mistakingly upheld. MLB later admitted to the Dodgers their replay review resulted in an incorrect decision.

Don Mattingly Says He’s ‘Over’ Replay