Should there be protests

[PeteBooth]

For those football fans there were some monster comebacks during this past weekend but one which I want to bring to your attention to get my point across.

G-men vs. the Niners.

At the end of the game the Giants botched the snap and the place holder threw a pass downfield to a linemen (who was eligable and reported to the official). The linemen was literally tackled by one of the niner defensemen preventing him from making the catch. You could see the expression of the Niner player thinking that he had given the Giants another chance.

The officials threw only one flag - Linemen (not the one who reported) down field and by Rule Game Over. After the game was over the NFL reviewed the game and realized the error.

There should have been 2 penalties on the play. Line men downfield AND Defensive Pass interference meaning the penalties would offset and the Giants would have another play.

Jim Fassel, coach of the Giants received a phone call from the league saying that the officials blew it and his team should have had another opportunity to kick the game winning field goal.

Now the Giants have no-one but themselves to blame for blowing a 24 point lead, but the fact remains that they should have been given another opportunity to win the game based upon a RULE violation. All they received was a SORRY from the League and their season is Over.

Ok Ok enough about Football. In baseball, although there have not been many protests upheld, there is a procedure in place that should a rule be violated and have a direct effect on the outcome of the game, the game could be replayed from that point in time where the misapplication occured.

Should baseball be treated like football? meaning the game is the game and whatever happens happens? In other words NO Protests allowed. If you get "hosed" well that's part of life deal with it and move on or do you think that the rule should be kept?

In LL, protest procedures could delay the game a long time since according to LL Tournament rules, a manager if he /she disagrees with a RULING can go all the way up the chain of command.


Should the Game be the Game and so be it? or Do you like the Protest rule the way it is?

Pete Booth