Rays' Maddon on protested game: I'm confident it will be upheld

Saturday afternoon's contest between the Tampa Bay Rays and Toronto Blue Jays was played under protest after the umpires granted the Blue Jays a replay challenge after the next play had begun in the fourth inning.

Toronto pitcher Mark Buehrle toed the rubber and was ready to deliver the next pitch following a pickoff play in which Wil Myers was ruled safe. Rays shortstop Yunel Escobar was in the batter's box to receive Buehrle's upcoming pitch when time was called and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons challenged the play. 

[Courtesy: MLB.com]

The umpires reversed the call after review, prompting Maddon to request the game be played under protest.

Here are the league rules pertaining to the situation:

Section II.D states: A manager must exercise his challenge (by verbal communication to the appropriate Umpire), or the Crew Chief must initiate a Replay Review (if applicable pursuant to Section II.C above) before the commencement of the next play or pitch. Such challenge or request will be considered timely only if the Umpire acknowledges that communication within the time period specified above.

For purposes of these Regulations, the next 'play' shall commence when the pitcher is on the rubber preparing to start his delivery and the batter has entered the batter's box (unless the defensive team initiates an appeal play in which case any call made during the play prior to the appeal still may be subject to Replay Review).

Maddon stood behind his decision to protest following the 5-4 extra-innings loss.

Crew chief Bob Davidson also spoke about his decision to allow the review:

If the league sides with Maddon, the two teams could be ordered to replay the game from the time of the dispute.