The Giants were eliminated from the playoffs by the Dodgers 2-1 in Game 5 of the NLDS. San Francisco squandered a strong outing by pitcher Logan Webb, who allowed only one earned run and struck out seven.
It was an obvious check swing in real-time, and one made indisputable upon seeing the replay.
So, now, after the benefit of an additional look, does first base umpire Gabe Morales believe he made the wrong call in prematurely ending the Giants' season?
He doesn't want to say.
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE That's right. The man who took the bat out of Wilmer Flores' hands and sent the Los Angeles Dodgers to the National League Championship Series doesn't want to publicly admit what anyone who watched the game already knows.
In speaking with the media after the Giants' 2-1 loss in Game 5 of the NLDS on Thursday night, Morales somehow made the whole situation worse.
When asked if he had seen a replay of the play in question, Morales confirmed that he had. But when questioned as to whether he still felt he made the right ruling, Morales was less than forthright.
"Check swings are one of the hardest calls we have," Morales said. "I don't have the benefit of multiple camera angles when I'm watching it live. When it happened live I thought he went, so that's why I called it a swing."
San Francisco Giants
Find the latest San Francisco Giants news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Bay Area and California.
Yeah, that wasn't the question, Gabe. So, what about crew chief Ted Barrett? Might he be able to tell the world what Morales was unwilling to admit?
"Yeah, no, we, yeah, yeah, he doesn't want to say."
True profiles in courage. How honorable.
RELATED: Kapler disappointed, not angry after controversial check swing
What's done is done. The Giants season is over, and it ended before it should have. But the least Morales can do, as the man solely responsible for that fact, is be upfront and honest about his critical error.
But apparently, that's asking too much.
