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Levine: Joe Maddon Goes Off On Umpire Review, Replay System

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon is angry, and he's not going to take it anymore.

On Wednesday night, the fiery Madon was livid over a replay call that ended the game in a 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. With two outs and the bases empty, Cubs outfielder Chris Denorfia hit a ball off of the left-field wall that bounced quickly back to left fielder Scott Van Slyke, who made a great throw to second base and saw the tag applied by second baseman Enrique Hernandez.

The game appeared over on the spot, but Maddon appealed the play. The umpires went to their station to talk to officials in New York. The process is for a confirmation or change of the out call by a video support team and an umpire official at MLB headquarters. Replays available to fans and media showed the ball clearly beat Denorfia to the bag. Replays also showed that Hernandez may have tagged Denorfia on the shoulder, rather than the hand. This occurrence created doubt on the out call by second base umpire Jordan Baker.

After a deliberation in New York, the out call was upheld. For most, it was simply game over. Not for Maddon, who said the whole system of who makes the decisions in New York needs to be changed.

"I totally disagree with it," Maddon said about the out call and confirmation in New York. "I cannot believe the conclusion. Even as a fan, standing in the dugout that particular moment, I wished whoever made that call, they could have been at Wrigley Field and seen our big screen, if they wanted to see something really definitive. To say there was nothing definitive there, I could not disagree with it more strongly. I have no idea why they would say that. It makes zero sense whatsoever."

Maddon was just getting going from there, as his frustration from the call boiled over. He called for sweeping changes to how the replay officials are picked.

"To say it stands is not a really cool way to go, game on the line," Maddon said. "It was obvious by that one (view) he was absolutely safe. Right now I am curious if you need more than one confirming opinion. That might be the worst non-overturn I have seen to this point."

Maddon got going again on the subject of who makes these game-changing calls some 1,500 miles from Wrigley Field. He wants outsiders -- instead of other umpires who may be hesitant to overturn a colleague's call -- making the decisions.

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

Denorfia admitted his mistake of trying to go to second, knowing his run was meaningless at that point when down by three. He also took the umpires off of the hook.

"I tried to get my arm around (the tag) -- it was really close," Denorfia said. "At the time, I was pretty angry at myself for doing that. I knew it was close. I thought it was too close to overturn."

Maddon will most likely hear from MLB executive vice president of baseball operations Joe Torre about his theory soon. This once again is Maddon standing up for his team and not caring if his thoughts offend or irritate the corporate bosses of the game.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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