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Why The Sudden Need For Replay In Baseball?
The idea of replay reviews is a good one in terms of intent. It’s to get the play right.
The trouble I have with it sometimes is the practicality. First of all, there is nothing "instant" about it. It works relatively well in the NFL, but there are times it is utterly frustrating watching the referee with a curtain over his head reviewing a play seemingly forever. It looks like he is in a voting booth or something.
The Big Ten does it better. They go up to a booth and it tends to take less time. There isn’t the "is he or isn’t he" element of the coach calling for replay.
In the NHL, the "did the puck cross the goal line or hit the goal post" plays make replay worth it. The one thing they don’t get right is whether players are in the crease. In last spring’s playoffs, it was ridiculous how they bungled that aspect of replay, especially in the Red Wings’ series with Dallas.
One of the good things about baseball is it had avoided this mess. It just wasn’t necessary. At least until lately.
This sudden urge by Major League Baseball to implement replay review of certain home run calls is beyond me. Why it has to be done now, without any experimentation, and right near end of the season, is puzzling to say the least.
Remember, this is the sport that ignored the steroid issue for decades.
Four umpires during the season, and six during the postseason, can’t get it right? Good thing they aren’t asking them to change light bulbs.
Random Thoughts
- It will be intriguing to see what Drew Henson has when he plays during the Lions final preseason game Thursday. I can understand why he struggled in baseball. There comes a point where upper-level pitching just overwhelms certain hitters. But I have never understood why he hasn’t been more successful in football. The arm is there. He is a smart kid. There isn’t that "he can’t hit a curveball" aspect to football.
- I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and the Pistons make a big trade. As time goes on, though, it just gets more unlikely.
- Falling behind the Indians in the American League Central standings after that awful game Tuesday night has to be the low point of the season for the Tigers. Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does.
The trouble I have with it sometimes is the practicality. First of all, there is nothing "instant" about it. It works relatively well in the NFL, but there are times it is utterly frustrating watching the referee with a curtain over his head reviewing a play seemingly forever. It looks like he is in a voting booth or something.
The Big Ten does it better. They go up to a booth and it tends to take less time. There isn’t the "is he or isn’t he" element of the coach calling for replay.
In the NHL, the "did the puck cross the goal line or hit the goal post" plays make replay worth it. The one thing they don’t get right is whether players are in the crease. In last spring’s playoffs, it was ridiculous how they bungled that aspect of replay, especially in the Red Wings’ series with Dallas.
One of the good things about baseball is it had avoided this mess. It just wasn’t necessary. At least until lately.
This sudden urge by Major League Baseball to implement replay review of certain home run calls is beyond me. Why it has to be done now, without any experimentation, and right near end of the season, is puzzling to say the least.
Remember, this is the sport that ignored the steroid issue for decades.
Four umpires during the season, and six during the postseason, can’t get it right? Good thing they aren’t asking them to change light bulbs.
Random Thoughts
- It will be intriguing to see what Drew Henson has when he plays during the Lions final preseason game Thursday. I can understand why he struggled in baseball. There comes a point where upper-level pitching just overwhelms certain hitters. But I have never understood why he hasn’t been more successful in football. The arm is there. He is a smart kid. There isn’t that "he can’t hit a curveball" aspect to football.
- I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop and the Pistons make a big trade. As time goes on, though, it just gets more unlikely.
- Falling behind the Indians in the American League Central standings after that awful game Tuesday night has to be the low point of the season for the Tigers. Just when you think it can’t get worse, it does.
posted by Pat Caputo at
12:16 PM
10 Comments:
Instant Replay is now in most every facit of our lives - why should baseball be any different.
Have you had a security guy show you footage of your son or daughter putting a candy bar in their pocket? - Instant Replay
Has human resources ever called you in the office to show you footage of yourself walking into work ten minutes late? - Instant replay.
Have you ever received a speeding ticket in the mail with a picture of you driving a car supposedly doing 90mph? - instant replay.
Has your wife ever seen the picture first and asked you who the blonde bimbo hugging while doing 90 mph? - Instant replay.
"Let's look at that again, Jim, here you can't quite see her hand, but her tongue is definitely in his right ear! And isn't that a package of matches on the dash that read 'Quickie Motel'?"
If the instant replay only verify's a home run - that's cool - a homer shouldn't be a judgement call. But if they have to replay every slide into a bag to see if the glove got him or not - that would wreck baseball.
When else would a manager have a chance to kick dirt on the umps shoes?
There is no stopping reviews now, that cat's out of the bag.
Why should baseball be any different the football or hockey. Please don't tell me about tradition.
If they can get a call right with technology, do it. My only complaint would be further lengthening the game times.
Of course if they could keep the hitters in the box game time wouldn't be an issue. These guys drive me crazy with their little pre-pitch routines.
Allan
Well Pat, the bright side of losing this many games is we get a better draft pick which is starting to become extremely important as other sports. The down side you might have to reduce payroll to reflect season tickets sales through the winter for the following year. I still be a Tiger fan over an Indian fan because of Mr.I. Indians cannot match the Tigers' payroll. If Mr.I wants to reload and keep his payroll at 137 million he could. The Indians do not have this luxury.
Fred Brill,
Great stuff. Big Brother is here, there and everywhere. But why can't baseball be the one exception.
Caputo
Allan,
Obviously, I disagree with you on this. I'd prefer they just leave baseball alone. Then again, I didn't like the wildcard at first - and now I love it.
Caputo
Barry,
A better draft pick in baseball remains little solace for a stink bomb season like this. I think you're right on about the Indians.
Caputo
I'd rather be an Indian fan than a fan of these quitters. Watch how hard the team plays for Eric Wedge every single night. Mr. I's group of over-paid schlubs is one of the biggest disgraces in pro sports. At least the depleted Tribe gives it a full effort night in and night out.
Anonymous,
Wedge has done a terrific job of getting his team to play hard every night. The same can't be said for Leyland. A lot of it, I suppose, has to do with the comfort level of the Tiger players because of their contracts.
Caputo
Illitch cannot cut payroll and will not cut payroll. He wants the attention and loves the press conferences. He will go sign Francisco Rodriguez, you watch.
Anonymous,
I agree with you about this issue. It would not be like Ilitch to cut payroll unless he has to - and he doesn't have to because of their attendance this season.
Caputo
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