Pirates celebrate video coordinator Kevin Roach's successful challenges against Cubs

Kevin Roach is locked in a video room next to the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse during home games at PNC Park and locked into the game, watching every play with a close eye in search of a mistake.

As the team’s video coordinator, Roach collaborates with bench coach Don Kelly to determine whether the Pirates should challenge an umpire’s call on the field. After the Pirates got two overturned in Sunday’s 7-1 win over the Chicago Cubs, manager Derek Shelton in his post-game interview said Roach “may be the player of the day.”

“He made two good calls that helped us win a ballgame,” Shelton said, “so give him some props.”

When Roach returned to his Mars home after the game, he was greeted with “M-V-P!” cheers from his three children — daughters Ella and Lily and son Brennan — and the neighbors.

“I would say it’s better than the opposite,” Roach said Monday, with a laugh. “I’m just trying to get the calls right every time.”

That’s the risk-reward for Roach, who is in his 20th season with the Pirates after previously working with Pitt basketball under Ben Howland. Roach’s work often goes unnoticed, although he received credit from Pirates reliever Kyle Crick for helping find a “huge tell” in his delivery in 2019.

The Pirates are 3-0 on challenges this season after also winning one in the home opener, not that he’s counting.

“If I was worried about the stats,” Roach said, “I might not pull the trigger.”

Roach’s quick trigger on a play at second base helped the Pirates score a run in the second inning against the Cubs. Dustin Fowler was trying to stretch a hit to left field into a double when he was called out at second base by umpire Ryan Additon. Roach saw that Fowler beat the tag by second baseman Eric Sogard, and the call was overturned after a 57-second video review. It allowed Gregory Polanco to score to tie the game at 1-1, and JT Brubaker followed with a two-run single down the right-field line to make it 3-1.

“I just looked at one, quickly, like his heel got the bag first and the tag was late,” Roach said. “And that’s what ended up happening. It’s those minute things you’ve got to look for. It could be something simple, such as the cleat hit the bag first before the tag. That’s what I saw immediately. It was early in the game so I’ve got to make sure I get it right because we don’t want lose one early and have no challenges later in the game.”

Shelton noted that the biggest challenge of attempting a challenge is that it requires a quick decision, with a 20-second time limit to make the call. Under MLB replay review rules, which started in 2014, the manager has one challenge but can keep using it if the play is overturned. If a team loses the challenge, they don’t get another until the umpire review starts in the seventh inning.

The Pirates also challenged a call in the third inning, when Cubs catcher Willson Contreras slid wide of second base to break up a double-play throw by Pirates shortstop Kevin Newman. Contreras never reached out to touch the base, so Roach said it was an easy interference call.

“It is risky,” Shelton said Monday afternoon, reiterating Roach’s role. “I think Kevin Roach did a really nice job on that one because, especially the one at second base, that’s a really difficult one to get. That play is really ambiguous and go can both ways. The fact that he took a shot on a play that was going to score a run, I think you have to weigh what’s going to happen in the game, especially early in the game if you’re taking a chance. I really appreciated his effort with it.”

While Shelton takes no credit, Roach also shares in his success. For games at PNC Park, Roach watches the live feed of the production truck on two screens with a one-second delay, so he can make a quick read and call. He credited the AT&T SportsNet production truck crew of producer Adam Elmore, director Pete Toma and associate producers Nick Milliron and Jason Steele for giving him multiple angles.

“We have the luxury of very good camera feeds,” Roach said. “The camera guys at PNC are awesome. They have a really good feel for what’s going to happen throughout the game. The guys in the truck do a great job of directing and getting the feeds that we need. It starts with those guys, providing the types of feeds that allow me to make decisions throughout the game.”

Most of the calls come down to tag plays or close calls at first base, although force outs, home-plate collisions and hit batmen also come into question. Roach dwells on the calls that go against the Pirates more than he celebrates the victories, especially after they won only 34.8% (16 of 46) in 2019 after winning 44.4% (24 of 54) in 2018, according to BaseballSavant.com statistics.

For now, Roach is enjoying his moment, knowing that his job will always require further review.

“The first one of the year sort of gets your blood moving,” Roach said. “After that, I actually like it. It’s not nerve-wracking for me because it’s part of my day and part of the game. I enjoy it. To have a small piece of the part of the game is pretty cool, but ultimately it’s won and lost by the players on the field.”