Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Is It Time For A Change?
Unfortunately for the Padres they are now heading home for the winter. Is it because they blew their last three games, all of which they had leads in? Could it be because they were up two runs in the bottom of the thirteenth inning and managed to blow that too? Regardless of these two very important point the real reason they did not head to a fourteenth inning against the Rockies is because of a blown call at home plate. The bang-bang call at the plate between Holliday and Barrett could have gone either way, unfortunately for the Padres it went the wrong way. The question now arises should instant replay be used in Major League Baseball? For me it is a very touchy subject because I lean both ways. The reason I feel it shouldn't be used is because baseball is a sport of of decisions, if you throw in instant replays then it takes away the chance of error because the umpires may never be wrong, this would just take away a lot of the excitement of the game. In reality though I do agree with putting in instant replays for this exact reason. A manager should be able to challenge certain calls just like the NFL does. The only thing they shouldn't be able to challenge would be balls and strikes but other then that anything goes. It wouldn't cost Major League Baseball that much to install the system either. According to writer Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com it only cost the NFL $9.5 million dollars to put high definition TVs in all NFL stadiums (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=wojciechowski_gene&id=3047023&sportCat=mlb&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab6pos1) This is merely pocket change for Major League Baseball. Many sports such as football, basketball, tennis, and nascar all have issued instant replay in their sport and all of which has seemed to have worked. Overall I feel that it would be a huge change in the game of baseball but I think it would be a change for the better. Yes, you will always have to "old timers" who may think it will ruin the game because that's how the game was made and that's how the game should stay, but how can you have all this technology and not make it available for the umpires to use? It is like when Jack Nicklaus complained that the new generation of golf was changing and the only reason that golfers such as Tiger were hitting the ball farther was because of the new age clubs, you mean to tell me Jack you wouldn't of used them is you had them? Installing instant replay could make the game that much better because now you would know that the call was right and the better team will prevail, not just get lucky.
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7 comments:
Although I believe instant replay could be used in baseball. I do not believe it should be used. Sure there are missed calls, but that is part of the game. The umpire has always had the last say in whether someone is out or safe. Do we have the right to change one of the oldest rules in sports? I do not believe so, Instant replay would take away from the the umps being a deciding factor in a game. It has always been that way so why change it? Teams have lost World Series on a bad call (The Cardinals in 1985) that instant replay has shown true. The most important reason might be that in baseball once an umpire has made a call he cannot change it, instant replay would destroy this baseball tradition.
Clemens you bring up a very good point about being able to view a replay to make a more accurate decision just like in football but for baseball? Eh, I don't think so. Look at how many games have had bad calls in the history of baseball. If we put a challenge rule in baseball now, what would they do about the 85' World Series? Will they go back and change the outcome of the game and give the real team the trophy? It's just to risky. Baseball is a bang bang sport and this in my opinion would ruin the game of baseball.
I agree that replay should be used in baseball, but only to a certain extent. I believe that too much instant replay could take away vastley from the game. That is why I only belive instant replay should be used when there a questions on whether a not a runner was tagged out fairly at home or whether a ball was a home run or not. I think if there were to be instant replay on whether a pitch was a ball or a strike it would virtually make the umpires useless. I wonder how umpires even feel about instant replay? I think ultimately it is is the umpires hands to decide because they are the ones out there making the judgement calls day in and day out.
I think that instant reply shouldn't be used only because there would be so many restrictions on it. The MLB wouldn't let you challenge pitches or interference calls. Or the replays that show a substance on a players jersey or cap. I mean there's just so many things that it could be used for that it would double the game time. Also, how many challenges would a team get? What happens if they get it wrong? Can only the umpires decide when to use the reply? I can see instant reply being used in future, but right now it just seems that there are too many questions that can't be answered and until they are no reply system should be used.
I’m on the fence with this issue in baseball I can see both view points on it. I understand that they want to get the play right every time but that is baseball the umps are humans they are allowed to make mistakes. I also see why they want instant replay so that the right call is made especially on the game deciding plays. If MLB goes to instant replay than they will be opening a can of worms because every team that lost a game in the past on a bad call will be mad that they didn’t have replay. I think it should stay the way it’s been to give use something to talk about the next day.
I agree with what Kevin had to say because i too believe that it should not be used because it would ruin the tradition of baseball. I actually also wrote about this and thought that whatever the umpire says is final because that is just how it has been over the years. I also think that there is plenty of time for the umpire to set up and get a good angle at the play so that he can make sure that the call is right. It would definitely destroy the tradition of the game.
I agree with you with that instant replay should be used in the MLB. Even though a large portion of the time umpires seem to make the right calls, what if they miss one? What if it is game seven of the world series and it is the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner at third and a batter makes a sacrifice fly to center field. The runner tags up and here comes the throw to the plate, its to close to tell from the tv so we look at the Ump for the call, SAFE! And that team wins the World Series. We watch the replay and he was obviously out. But since the ump made the call that’s is that and no changes can be made. A bad call results in one teams false championship and another’s unfortunate ending. Replay could change the face of the game. I like your idea of a challenge just like in the NFL.
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