Why No Replay Review?

[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?

[Rich Ives]

Originally Posted by Jurassic Referee

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?

35% of the reviewed calls were wrong?

What percent is that of all calls?

[JJ]

Here's my million-dollar idea: Instead of physical metal foul pole, use a laser instead. It would go up infinitely, so there would be no doubt about whether a shot went "over" the foul pole. If a ball even barely nicked it, the computer that it was tied into would indicate that the laser's continuous beam was interrupted, so the fair/foul for this one would be easy. It could be modified with a series of other lasers extending along the fenceline that, if interrupted, would indicate a fair ball if the ball passed through them - which would deal with the ball that "wraps around the foul pole".
Of course, there may be other problems - you'd probably have to put up a VERY high plexiglass wall along the top of the outfield fence so the fans couldn't toss a beer cup through the laser beam...
I'll give it more thought, send it to R & D, then present it to the fiscal dept for a feasibility study....and then I'll get back to you....

JJ

[mbyron]

Originally Posted by JJ

Here's my million-dollar idea: Instead of physical metal foul pole, use a laser instead. It would go up infinitely, so there would be no doubt about whether a shot went "over" the foul pole. If a ball even barely nicked it, the computer that it was tied into would indicate that the laser's continuous beam was interrupted, so the fair/foul for this one would be easy. It could be modified with a series of other lasers extending along the fenceline that, if interrupted, would indicate a fair ball if the ball passed through them - which would deal with the ball that "wraps around the foul pole".
Of course, there may be other problems - you'd probably have to put up a VERY high plexiglass wall along the top of the outfield fence so the fans couldn't toss a beer cup through the laser beam...
I'll give it more thought, send it to R & D, then present it to the fiscal dept for a feasibility study....and then I'll get back to you....

JJ

Where would you locate the beam detector for the top of the foul pole beam? The beam source cannot be configured to detect an interruption in the beam. IOW, same problem.

Also, lasers don't work in the rain.

[MD Longhorn]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Where would you locate the beam detector for the top of the foul pole beam? The beam source cannot be configured to detect an interruption in the beam. IOW, same problem.

Also, lasers don't work in the rain.

How about a very thin strand of transparent aluminum?

[JJ]

Originally Posted by mbyron

Where would you locate the beam detector for the top of the foul pole beam? The beam source cannot be configured to detect an interruption in the beam. IOW, same problem.

Also, lasers don't work in the rain.

R & D, my good man....R & D.....and domed stadiums for everyone!

JJ

[Jurassic Referee]

Originally Posted by Rich Ives

35% of the reviewed calls were wrong?

What percent is that of all calls?

No idea, but imo you'd have to take some judgment calls out of the discussion. Who's to say who's judgment is right on some calls? That's why I personally find the NBA claims of having the highest accuracy rate of call-making for all major sports very suspect. Hell, I've officiated basketball for over 50 years and I don't have a clue as to what constitutes a foul in the NBA.