Jim McKean, ESPN's umpiring consultant, says he believes Jim West used the replay rule properly when he called Phillies right fielder Hunter Pence out Sunday because of fan interference.
McKean said Monday that the Phillies are "not going to win" their formal protest of Sunday's 5-4 loss in Florida because "fan interference is part of the replay rule" and because West, as the crew chief, "has the right to look at the replay any time he wants if it concerns a possible home run."
The play that attracted this furor occurred in the sixth inning Sunday. Pence hit a long fly to deep right field. Marlins right fielder Bryan Petersen sprinted back to the fence, leaped but had his glove collide with the outstretched hands of a Phillies fan in the front row.
The ball bounced off the cap of another fan for what was originally called a double, but Petersen pointed immediately toward the two fans.
Marlins manager Jack McKeon then charged out to argue for a fan-interference call.
McKean: Joe West Made Correct Call





