Announcement from mbcrowder

[ozzy6900]

How about we all move on, now! What's more important is will this push MLB to implement video replay and make baseball games even longer now?

[MD Longhorn]

Honestly, even though I'm an umpire... I have no problem with them implementing instant replay on some sort of limited "challenge" basis - if each team can only challenge 1 time, for example, then we've only added 3-4 minutes to the game.

One change I'd like to see is finding a way to either let the umpires have much quicker access to the replays (so they don't disappear down a tunnel for 5 minutes), or simply use college football's system and put real (or perhaps EX-) umpires in a booth for this sort of thing. MOST of the time we've seen the replay we need within 30 seconds - that would speed it up a lot.

[greymule]

And while they are at it, let's fix the 1985 World Series too.

And a bunch of others. Before the replay, suspect calls were not verified as missed until the film was developed. For example, in the first inning of the fourth game of the 1960 World Series, Yogi Berra beat a play at 1B but was called out for the third out, which cost the Yankees a run. They lost the game 3-2. When the photographs revealed the blown call the next day, the general attitude of fans and even the Yankees was simply, "It's part of the game."

I don't believe there's a photograph to prove it one way or another, but I suspect that a call (on Joe Pepitone at 1B) in the ninth inning of the fifth game in 1964 cost the Yankees the game (and thus the series).

I can't remember which series it was—probably early 1950s—but a runner beats a force play at 3B by what looks like almost a full second, while the narrator says, ". . . and he's . . . out on a close play at 3B!" Meanwhile, you see the 3B coach blow a gasket and set a high jump record.

In 1969, I came in to relieve in the bottom of the 10th of the NBC state championship game. Runners were on 1B and 2B with none out. Their pitcher tried three times to bunt the runners over but struck out. The next guy hit a ball back to me on one hop. I threw to 3B for the second out, and the throw to 1B got the runner by three steps. Had the BU made no call at all, the teams would have changed sides without pausing. However, he called, "Safe!" and everybody on the field froze. There wasn't a lot of screaming, because we were all just plain stunned and wanted to know why "safe." The BU said he couldn't see the play because the sun was in his eyes. (I cannot explain why the PU didn't get involved at that point. I just don't remember.)

Yes, the next guy got a hit and sent us home. Oddly, through the years we have all remembered that call humorously rather than angrily.

[DG]

Originally Posted by ozzy6900

How about we all move on, now! What's more important is will this push MLB to implement video replay and make baseball games even longer now?

This review would have taken less than a minute and the game would have been shortened because we would not have another batter. Making games longer is a poor argument for not wanting replay. I am sure the fans would rather get the important calls right.

It will push MLB to more replay. I think Joyce would vote for it and the players union would also, given this new situation.

[DG]

Was it last year that Selig decreed that a WS game would not be called due to rain. I believe it was raining cats and dogs until the home team tied the score and then it was suspended.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by DG

Was it last year that Selig decreed that a WS game would not be called due to rain. I believe it was raining cats and dogs until the home team tied the score and then it was suspended.

2008, Phillies/Rays. And it was the visiting team (Tampa Bay) that tied the score by hitting a ball that skidded through an infield that should've been covered much earlier, thus effectively taking the call out of the umpires' hands.

Selig then said he wouldn't have let the game be called early due to weather anyway. As a Phillies fan, I thought the whole night was horsecrap -- fortunately, it didn't matter as the Phillies closed out the suspended game 2 days later.

[GA Umpire]

Why have officials on the field if IR is used? There is no need for one. Not even a PU. They have the technology to cover it all. Why have them?

Give 1 good example of having them on the field if technology is to be used. I'm still wondering why NFL has any since everything can be caught on camera. And, the funny thing about that is even after reviewing the call, the officials say the call stands b/c they can't determine if they are wrong or not. And, that is with all of this technology and numerous camera angles.

I don't understand why people want IR. We don't have it when we umpire our amateur games. And, they are just as important to the participants/fans as the pro games are. They even have more invested by having a kid on the team. Just b/c there are cameras there doesn't make it any different then the games we umpire. Only it is on TV. Whoop-dee-doo-dah. Good for them. They are on a little box in people's homes. Why do so many care? That game has absolutely nothing to do with them.

The best part about the game is the human element: players and umpires. There is no telling what the outcome will be. Also, can't argue with a computer. Have you ever tried? It doesn't say much back. At least, mine doesn't no matter how many times I call it an idiot.

[bob jenkins]

Knock it off, both of you.