Hall of Fame manager Earl Weaver is credited with coining a phrase that has lived on in clubhouses for decades: Momentum is only as good as the next day’s starting pitcher.
Here’s a maxim for the new age: Momentum is only as good as the replay coordinator.
After two muted National League Championship Series games, the Dodgers broke out with a historic first inning in Wednesday’s Game 3. What flipped the switch was, improbably, an early decision to review a close call.
Mookie Betts swung at the game’s first pitch and took off for first base. Atlanta’s Freddie Freeman reached to his left to field the throw and caught it just as Betts’ left foot touched the base. The initial call was out, but Dodgers replay coordinator Chad Chop recommended that manager Dave Roberts challenge it.
Game 2’s first inning featured a similar play: Freeman lunged forward to field a throw from third but kept his right foot tethered to…
