Royals’ Michael Massey Admits Fault After Rare Shift Violation
Michael Massey took full responsibility for a costly shift violation during Thursday’s game against the Seattle Mariners. With the Royals trailing 1-0 in the top of the eighth inning, Massey thought he had just recorded the second out on Dominic Canzone’s sharp ground ball. However, replay revealed that Massey’s heels were on the outfield grass when the ball was hit, resulting in an error for the shift violation and Canzone being awarded first base. 
After the violation, Canzone’s pinch-runner, Victor Robles, later scored on a J.P. Crawford double, sealing the Royals’ 2-0 loss. The defeat dropped their record to 76-77 for the season.
Massey was candid about the mistake, acknowledging the rule while expressing his frustration with it. “I’ve played that spot for four years and never had this happen,” he said. “It’s on me. I know the rule—I can’t be in the grass. Whether the replay was conclusive or not, I’ve got my opinions on it, but that’s the rule, and I’ll be better.”
The Mariners’ replay team, led by Andy Bissell, was vigilant and immediately identified the violation. Bissell had even prepared for the possibility of such a call, saying, “Two pitches before, I called [field coordinator Louis Boyd] and said, ‘Hey, if a ball is hit to Massey, give me a call. We’re going to challenge it probably.’”
While the Royals’ playoff hopes were already slim, the violation was an embarrassing mistake that underscored their inability to compete at a postseason level.
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