I’m sure you have all seen the play by now. In what should have been the final out of last night’s game, Greg Golson was said to have trapped a ball that replay showed he clearly caught. The Yankees argued and the umpires huddled, to no avail. The batter was awarded first base, and Jim Thome was allowed to bat as the tying run. Mariano Rivera got him to pop out to end the threat and make the issue less controversial, but the play was infuriating as it happened and highlighted the stubborn idiocy that marks the official position of Major League Baseball on this issue. If everyone in America but the people who are making the call are aware within 45 seconds that a mistake was made, we have a problem that is not without a solution. We simply have an obstinate commissioner who refuses to see the handwriting on the wall and will not do what is best for the game and its fans.
Ed Price was asking for possible solutions on Twitter, suggesting that he has yet to hear a workable plan to fix this issue. I think adding an umpire in a booth with a video technician would be a simple and effective solution. Being that those of us watching on TV tend to know quite quickly if the “human element” has fouled things up, the video ump should be able to buzz down to the crew chief and have the call overturned rather rapidly. If people really have a problem with the amount of time such a process would take (not much at all), they can make it illegal for a manager to come onto the field to dispute a call. Eliminating such worthless arguments would cut the amount of time expended due to a poor call, and would carve out time to get the call right through video replay. While some calls might be too close to tell and therefore would not be overturned, that is not a problem. The issue is not that the umpires are missing calls, as that is to be expected. The issue is that they are missing easy calls that can be changed quickly by using a bit of technology that is readily available.
What would you do about instant replay?
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9 Responses to Discussion: Instant Replay Now
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TIQ IQ
Ed Price isn’t exactly up for Mensa membership.
How anyone can be against replay is astounding.
The issue with replay in my opinion isnt the amount of time it takes to determine the call. Its how do you then determine where runners who were on base go. A line drive that gets called foul that rolled around the corner might allow a runner that was on first go to third if it was gardner at 1st. Jorge on the other hand would only get to second. But you cant guess and say well he would have made it to 3rd and he only would have made it to second. IF the guy on first would have tried for third, then a fast runner could attempt 2nd on the throw to 3rd. There are so many variables to this. On the reverse, say a ball is trapped that a runner on 1st thought there was no way it would be caught so without hesitating goes sprints to 1st and by the time its “trapped” is two steps off 2nd. If it was ruled a catch he could double off the runner. What happens after replay shows it was a catch? Do you call the runner out for a double play or say well only the hitter is out the runner goes back to first. Theres just too much unknowns with replay in baseball. For homeruns i have no problem with it. But i dont see how you can use it at all when there are runners on base.
and just to clarify, im not saying replay isnt needed. I just dont think its as simple as some people make it out to be
You can have set rules. One base, etc
watching the rays game today, michael young check swings with 2 strikes and 2 on..his swing took him out in front of the batters box.. two umps call no swing…horrible call..next pitch 3 run homer..and these umps are so quick and arrogant.. they have too much power, and no problem engaging an antagonizing managers and players..this has been going on for about 5 6 years now..they are out of order..replay is a must in the post season.. they had the nerve to complain and call non strikes on the yank sox games..because they average 20 minutes longer..without baseball what would they be doing?taking the cop test.or school crossing guards..sox and yanks are the highest draw on tv .they go about the game with every pitch like a ws game..what is wrong with that..selig is a dog..after all the absurd calls this year..replay should be in..maybe when needed it would add 5 minutes to a game in the post season.. you play 162 to get a non player to change history..and they get annoyed about it..that kid had a perfect game this year..he couldn’t ask another ump what they thought? ego is too big..could have said ,i missed it ,dust went in my eye i need help.. selig got a statue? where are all the pigeons when you need them..
I’m a big proponent of replay, but it’s going to be quite some time before they institute replay on something like a checked swing.
you are probably right, but how do two umps get it wrong..same as last night..check swings won’t count as much if replay can help them get other things right
The announcers educated me the other night that a checked swing is not specifically defined in the rulebook. The first thing to do is to define the intentions and characteristics, rather than to accept current conventions, then work on solutions (rules) and technical aides.
When we get to radar-ranging the strikezone, I would love to see the zone as the rulebook defines it be enforced: tall and thin, rather than knees to beltbuckle and as wide as the ump feels.
i’m against replay. i like the human error of baseball. I love it when the manager comes out and gets ejected from game. human error makes baseball great. it gives us all something to talk about.
i would be ok with an official ump in the booth who can overrule the field umps on certain plays that does not require super super slow motion replays. with that said, field umps are forbidden from contacting the booth ump for help. this allows managers to go out and argue plays and get ejected. IT WOULD BE COOL IF THE UMP AND MANAGER ARE MIC’D UP WHILE THEY ARGUE