Instant Replay - Needed

[JRutledge]

Originally posted by WindyCityBlue
Good Morning Gents,
Why the chipper mood, you ask? Since the beginning of the MLB season, I have been telling the membership of a change in attitude for our MLB brethren. I have taken hit after hit about doing whatever is necessary to get the call right, when applicable. Some of our members challenged my experience, knowledge and sense of history. Others hung their hats on the “Live and die with your call.” mentality. I was chastised for saying that the mechanic had made its way into D-1 ball a couple of years ago and that the Minor Leagues was instituting a similar policy. Again and again, we saw members say how diluted the officiating had become and that huddling over controversial call looked silly.

Then a funny thing happened in the Bronx last night...

Just imagine what would have been the reaction if both of those umpires had subscribed to the mentality that some of you espouse. The greater good of the game was served. A-Rod looked like A-Weenie and the umpires remembered that they are not bigger than the game. That was a beautiful game, in so many ways!

The simple fact is we are human. We make mistakes and now have the ability to see them - close up and in slow motion! We are expected to get them right...now we can do a better job of it.

Not sure what you are gloating about? No one ever suggested here that I can remember that you should never get together to get plays right. This example was the perfect example of when a crew should talk or help each other out. If I am not mistaken the crew chief (who was at first base) asked for help on the play because he knew he was screened and wanted to make sure he got the call right. That is the exact same situation I have found myself in and have helped partners each and every year I have umpired baseball. It is even the very same attitude I take in all my officiating endeavors. I think the officials did a wonderful job, but they also followed a common procedure. The calling official made the call. The calling official asked for help (as he should of in a play like that). They also got together on the homerun which was another good call by the umpires. I really do not know who has ever suggested that there was something wrong about getting together one obviously wrong calls or situations where an umpire might be screened? But if the calling official was sure about their call and saw the entire play, it is not our job to change the call for them. But there is a difference in a ML baseball game where we have 6 Umpires and on every play there is someone that has your back as compared to a 2 Man system where no one has a clear look at their partner's calls in many situations. This is just about as absurd comparison as it would be for most HS officials to compare themselves and mechanics with NFL or NCAA with 7 Officials. There are just some calls you have to live with and no one can help you. And if another official in situations are watching you so closely, what the heck are they missing.

Peace