Why No Replay Review?

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I've got the ball clearly over the stands when there's contact with the fielder's glove. That's not INT. Hell, if the ball is over the stands, the fans can rip it out of the fielder's glove, and it still wouldn't be INT.


Here's the video:
Baseball Video Highlights & Clips | ALCS Gm 4: Cano homers over a leaping Cruz - Video | MLB.com: Multimedia

And that's exactly what the replay video shows also. Every single time, too.

Later on in the game, Brett Gardner reached into the stands trying to catch a foul ball and a fan knocked it away from him. Same kinda play. Does the name "Bartman" ring a bell?

[MD Longhorn]

So let me get this straight... you expected the UMPIRES to make a ruling, and then on their own decide they might be wrong and go to replay? Coaches didn't complain or ask them to confer - so why would they? Blaming the umpires for not going to replay is frankly idiotic.

[Jay R]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

So let me get this straight... you expected the UMPIRES to make a ruling, and then on their own decide they might be wrong and go to replay? Coaches didn't complain or ask them to confer - so why would they? Blaming the umpires for not going to replay is frankly idiotic.

That's exactly how it works with the NBA last second shot. They are expected the make a call and then review. I have no problem with that concept. If I had been in Reynold's shoes, I would have wanted to double check my call. That way, if the game ends 1-0 for the Yankees; I don't get crucified by the media.

[kylejt]

I'm surprised the Rangers manager didn't go to the crew chief to get a video review of the play. I'm guessing that's the proper procedure.

[Texas Aggie]

I'm not convinced Berkman's shot didn't hit the foulpole.

It didn't. You could see the shadow clearly in one replay, and the ball's path was unaffected.

I've got the ball clearly over the stands when there's contact with the fielder's glove.

You need to watch the replay again. The ball is easily 10-15 feet (perhaps more; hard to tell for sure) in the air and over the warning track while there is the initial contact with the glove. Hard to judge how far away from the fence, but it is not over the stands.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Texas Aggie

You need to watch the replay again. The ball is easily 10-15 feet (perhaps more; hard to tell for sure) in the air and over the warning track while there is the initial contact with the glove. Hard to judge how far away from the fence, but it is not over the stands.

I disagree, but it doesn't matter. Even if you're right, it's STILL not interference.

[Steven Tyler]

Originally Posted by mbyron

I disagree, but it doesn't matter. Even if you're right, it's STILL not interference.

Hey Hoss, take a look at this. It shows the fans with their hands in glove of Cruz. The ball had just taken a bounce off the front the padded wall. I doubt their hands got there after the ball had passed Cruz.

Yankees vs Rangers Game 4 ALCS | NJ.com

[ozzy6900]

From reading many of the comments to this post, I really hope that replay does not come lower than MLB. Some of you guys would run to the replay for a slightest thing. Let's try and remember, people, we are umpires - it is our job to make the calls not the videos.

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

So let me get this straight... you expected the UMPIRES to make a ruling, and then on their own decide they might be wrong and go to replay? Coaches didn't complain or ask them to confer - so why would they? Blaming the umpires for not going to replay is frankly idiotic.

Not sure to whom your comment is directed, but I'll answer since I started the thread.

Ron Washington certainly did go out to complain or clarify what happened along the wall. (You can reference the video link provided by Jurassic.) Since he wasn't miked, I'm not certain what he said to the umpire(s). But he most certainly went out.

Is the trigger mechanism for reviewing a call how vociferously the manager argues? That seems to be the inference of your comment.

I'm simply trying to understand the way the review process works. Does the "offending" umpire have to agree to have his call reviewed, does the manager have to create a dust storm, or can the crew (or crew chief) simply say, "Let's check this one on the tape"?

What's the mechanism that sends them into the tunnel to look at the tape?

It's also interesting that when the call is changed due to review, as in the Berkman HR, the protocol of an umpire changing his own call isn't necessarily followed.

[GoodwillRef]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

So let me get this straight... you expected the UMPIRES to make a ruling, and then on their own decide they might be wrong and go to replay? Coaches didn't complain or ask them to confer - so why would they? Blaming the umpires for not going to replay is frankly idiotic.

Why are MLB umpires so stubborn...what ever happen to getting the call right and not saving face at all costs.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by GoodwillRef

Why are MLB umpires so stubborn...what ever happen to getting the call right and not saving face at all costs.

This has nothing to do with saving face or being stubborn. Washington didn't ask him to go look. Do you ever make a call you don't think is right? Ever? I'm not asking if you're always right ... I'm asking - don't you ALWAYS think your call is right, at the moment you made it?

So ... what would prompt someone, after making a call he believes to be right, to waffle on his OWN call and say, "Hey guys, I'm not sure on that one, let's go watch tv." It doesn't work that way, and it shouldn't.

[Jay R]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

This has nothing to do with saving face or being stubborn. Washington didn't ask him to go look. Do you ever make a call you don't think is right? Ever? I'm not asking if you're always right ... I'm asking - don't you ALWAYS think your call is right, at the moment you made it?

So ... what would prompt someone, after making a call he believes to be right, to waffle on his OWN call and say, "Hey guys, I'm not sure on that one, let's go watch tv." It doesn't work that way, and it shouldn't.

Sure we make the calls we think are right. But if there is a process to verify that call, especially based on the fact that the manager is out there asking about it, why not take advantage of it.

I made a call this summer on a HR ball that was way over the foul pole. Very difficult call. I called it fair and did not back down even though the defensive manager came out to argue. But if replay had been available, I would have used it. Chances are it would have confirmed my call, but it takes away any doubt.

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by Jay R

Sure we make the calls we think are right. But if there is a process to verify that call, especially based on the fact that the manager is out there asking about it, why not take advantage of it.

I made a call this summer on a HR ball that was way over the foul pole. Very difficult call. I called it fair and did not back down even though the defensive manager came out to argue. But if replay had been available, I would have used it. Chances are it would have confirmed my call, but it takes away any doubt.

1. Because it slows down the game and shouldn't be used when not necessary. It's the crew's call when to use it, not the manager's.

2. This one wasn't difficult.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by Jay R

I made a call this summer on a HR ball that was way over the foul pole. Very difficult call. I called it fair and did not back down even though the defensive manager came out to argue. But if replay had been available, I would have used it. Chances are it would have confirmed my call, but it takes away any doubt.

Perfect example, thanks.

If replay had been available, and NO ONE came to argue, would you call home run and then say, "Wait, I'm not really sure, let's get replay"????? Heck no.

I'm not saying refuse a request to check ... but any umpire that makes a call and then ON HIS OWN wants to review it, is probably not cut out for this job.

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by mbcrowder

If replay had been available, and NO ONE came to argue, would you call home run and then say, "Wait, I'm not really sure, let's get replay"????? Heck no.

I'm not saying refuse a request to check ... but any umpire that makes a call and then ON HIS OWN wants to review it, is probably not cut out for this job.

They posted an interesting stat on beisbol replays the past year during the game. Iirc out of 69 fair/foul calls looked at at, 24 calls were reversed as being wrong. Iow they had almost 35% of the calls reviewed wrong. Thoughts?