The air at Kauffman Stadium hung heavy with the tension of late-game baseball. The Kansas City Royals, seeking to even the series, were engaged in a nail-biter against the visiting New York Mets. Their offense had been scuffling all night, converting only 1 of 9 with runners in scoring position. But in a game they would ultimately lose 3-1, this moment felt like their last real chance. But that would soon spiral into a controversy, igniting a firestorm across the baseball world.

The flashpoint came at the bottom of the eighth inning with the Royals down 2-1. With powerful closer Edwin Díaz on for the Mets, Bobby Witt Jr drew a one-out walk. Then, as Vinnie Pasquantino came to bat, Witt attempted to steal second. But Luis Torrens, the catcher, made a pinpoint throw to shortstop Francisco Lindor, who tagged Witt with the ball. The on-field umpire made the challengeable call of ‘Safe’ with no room for doubt. But the roar from the 24,620 fans was quickly silenced by a challenge from the Mets’ dugout.

After a lengthy review, the call was deemed incorrect, and the officials reversed it. This incident was summed up beautifully by Jomboy Media on Instagram: “In a critical part of the game this stolen base was overturned to out.”

For the Royals and their fans, it felt like reliving the past. This controversial decision did not occur in a vacuum; it was a repeat of the night before. In the previous game as well, the Royals’ pinch runner, Tyler Tolbert, had a successful steal, which was later overturned. The call was reversed after a lengthy review for a nearly identical reason.

Postgame, the Royals’ dugout was a place of clear frustration. Manager Matt Quatraro spoke openly about the two calls made on consecutive nights. “He beat it there clearly,” he said about Witt’s try. “Obviously, that part wasn’t in dispute… I can see why they overturned yesterday. I don’t see why they overturned today.” Quatraro’s pointed remarks illustrated a deep sense of frustration with the replay center’s inconsistency.

Players themselves went at it with greater force in their criticism. Bobby Witt Jr, who was at the heart of the controversy, questioned the very standard of the review process. “The rule is clear and convincing,” he said. “And I didn’t see anything clear and convincing, nor did any of the umpires out there or did anyone in our dugout.” Third baseman Jonathan India was perhaps the most blunt. “It was a joke and I think even yesterday’s was a joke,” he declared. “I don’t think that is right, and I think he was safe. There’s not enough evidence to overturn that.”

While the managers and the players debated rules and evidence, the fans delivered their own swift, unified, and furious verdict.

Fans erupt over replay rebellion

“This is not what replay was made for,” wrote a fan. Well, this comment got right to the core of the issue. Replays are supposed to be used to overturn awful, egregious human mistakes, such as the strike that wasn’t called, costing Armando Galarraga a perfect game. It was not constructed to be scrutinized frame by frame in search of a subliminal “pop-up” from the bag.

Some felt a raw, gut-level sense of injustice: “Absolutely awful call.” Consider the context, and this reaction becomes totally justifiable. This wasn’t an isolated incident. On the previous night, Royals speedster Tyler Tolbert fell victim to an almost identical overturned ruling against the very same Mets. When it happened again, to the team’s superstar, Bobby Witt Jr, less than 24 hours later, it felt less like a rare mistake and more like an arbitrary, unjust enforcement of a rule.

When pure anger turns to suspicion, fans start searching for more complex reasons behind a confusing decision. “New York reviews New York,” read a comment. The location of the MLB Replay Command Center is in New York City. And even though the league is neutral, these instances may add weight to a strong perception otherwise. When a 50/50 call — such as the one on Witt — goes the Mets’ or Yankees’ way, it only adds fuel to this sort of narrative.

For the most cynical observers, though, the bias they perceived wasn’t geographic; it was financial. “Sponsored by Vegas,” another fan chimed in. While there is no evidence of direct manipulation, a bizarre, game-altering call like Witt’s immediately left fans gutted and wondering!