Three strikes: Replay, unhittable Jimenez, Harper’s home
Article By smcneal.tsn on 3rd June, 2010
Stan McNeal analyzes three hot topics in Major League Baseball:
Strike 1: Just say no to instant replay As soon as the first replay aired to confirm that Jim Joyce's bad call had cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game Wednesday, baseball's cyberspace was screaming: "Replay! Replay! Replay!"
No, no, no. Please. Three reasons why replay might be an easy topic for the media to puff out its collective chest about but should not be expanded:
Jim Joyce's blown call has brought out calls for instant replay. 1. There is no ideal system.
Before replay was introduced in 2008 to assist on home run calls, opponents were wary for one reason: Limited replay would lead to more replay. So here we are.
Where would it end? Would it be used on close calls at first, home, every base? To determine trapped catches? What about balls and strikes? Proponents likely would not be satisfied until a robot is calling balls and strikes. After all, if the goal is to get every call right, that is what would be needed.
And who would decide when it would be used? Let's say some silly system is instituted that would allow managers to challenge a certain number of calls. Say the limit is three. What if Jim Leyland had used up his challenges before the 26th out Wednesday night? Then what?
2. Instant replay it is not.
By the time umpires gather, watch and re-watch a disputed play and make their final decision, instant replay becomes more like three-minute replay. Baseball already has lost countless fans because of its slow pace. Building in another drag to the game is needed about as much as the Yankees could use a larger payroll.
3. Mistakes are part of the game.
Everyone makes them. Bill Buckner, Grady Little, Don Denkinger and, now, Jim Joyce. Players, coaches and managers don't have the luxury of technology to reverse their errors. Umpires, who are just as much a part of the game as anyone ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
Strike 1: Just say no to instant replay As soon as the first replay aired to confirm that Jim Joyce's bad call had cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game Wednesday, baseball's cyberspace was screaming: "Replay! Replay! Replay!"
No, no, no. Please. Three reasons why replay might be an easy topic for the media to puff out its collective chest about but should not be expanded:
Jim Joyce's blown call has brought out calls for instant replay. 1. There is no ideal system.
Before replay was introduced in 2008 to assist on home run calls, opponents were wary for one reason: Limited replay would lead to more replay. So here we are.
Where would it end? Would it be used on close calls at first, home, every base? To determine trapped catches? What about balls and strikes? Proponents likely would not be satisfied until a robot is calling balls and strikes. After all, if the goal is to get every call right, that is what would be needed.
And who would decide when it would be used? Let's say some silly system is instituted that would allow managers to challenge a certain number of calls. Say the limit is three. What if Jim Leyland had used up his challenges before the 26th out Wednesday night? Then what?
2. Instant replay it is not.
By the time umpires gather, watch and re-watch a disputed play and make their final decision, instant replay becomes more like three-minute replay. Baseball already has lost countless fans because of its slow pace. Building in another drag to the game is needed about as much as the Yankees could use a larger payroll.
3. Mistakes are part of the game.
Everyone makes them. Bill Buckner, Grady Little, Don Denkinger and, now, Jim Joyce. Players, coaches and managers don't have the luxury of technology to reverse their errors. Umpires, who are just as much a part of the game as anyone ...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for MLB
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