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Associated Press 9y

Maddon: Review umps should be replaced by 'bunch of nerds'

MLB, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers

CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon think baseball's video review umpires should be replaced by "a bunch of nerds."

Chicago's 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday night ended when Chris Denorfia singled off the base of the left-field wall with two outs in the ninth and was thrown out by Scott Van Slyke, who made a perfect strike to second.

Second base umpire Jordan Baker's call was upheld after a video review.

"I cannot believe the conclusion," Maddon said. "I mean, even as a fan standing in the dugout at that particular moment, I wish that whomever made that call could have been at Wrigley Field and looked at our big screen if they wanted to see something definitive. To say there was nothing definitive right there, I cannot disagree with more strongly. I have no idea why they would say that. It makes zero sense to me whatsoever. I'm just being honest, folks. It made no sense.

"The play stands? If it was confirmed, I could almost live with that. To say it stands is not a really cool way to go in that particular moment with the game on the line. It was obvious from that one shot that he was absolutely safe. No questions asked. That might be the worst non-overturn I've seen to this point."

Since the start of the 2014 season, plays such as this one have been subject to video review by umpires at Baseball Advanced Media in New York. The name of the individual umpire making the review decision is not released.

"I just think it really screams for an independent group back there to really research the video as opposed to working umpires who are on the field," Maddon said. "I think you should get just a bunch of nerds back there who know how to look at a videotape and then come to a conclusion. I think it'll be much more interesting that way."

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