MLB Commissioner Bud Selig says that replay could be installed in baseball before the end of the season, but first wants to make sure all the kinks are ironed out.
“I’m hoping we can get the bugs out sometime before the postseason,” Selig said. “Whether we can make that timetable or not really hasn’t been determined.”
It was not voted on during his meeting with 30 MLB executives as it was not technically an action item on the agenda. But, it is being discussed and they are working towards it.
“Well, we’re working on the whole instant replay situation — it didn’t need a vote,” Selig said. “I’m quite satisfied that we’re trying to get all the bugs out of it. It’ll be very limited in its form, as you know. I’m a little reluctant to speak out about it until I know everything is working, but we are moving in the right direction.”
Under their current replay plan, balls and strikes would not be up for review. Baseball’s version of instant replay would only be for disputed home run calls.
My problem isn’t with the implementation of replay. My issue is with the fact that they would make a major adjustment to the rules during a season. That’s just stupid. Why can’t this wait for 2009?
If they pull this off in 2008, they should go back and look at video of every disputed HR call for the season and re-adjust the standings.
WILL ruin baseball.
Will ruin baseball? Runs are tremendously important considering how few are scored each game. You are saying that getting a 3-run homer call correct will “ruin” baseball. I would have to say I am on the other side of the fence on this one.
Baseball is a pastoral, non-technological game. At its roots you have players, coaches, and umpires. The game is BASED on what those three people see, hear, and decide.
I know it’s not being applied to balls and strikes (yet) but that’s a great example. Player sees things one way, the umpire sees things another way. A ball hits the top of the wall, the umpire makes a call, and if one side disagrees, they argue.
Even getting TOSSED from a baseball game is an integral part OF the game. Baseball is not meant to be perfect. It’s why all the fields are different sizes and shapes. It’s not a game where you need or should have instant replay.
The core of baseball is going out to the field with a ball and a bat and gloves and playing. Technology should only creep into this game as much as it allows more people (TV audiences) to experience it. Nothing more.
We are talking about a completely subjective call that makes a huge difference in the outcome of the game (like homeruns and foul balls). It is either in or out… there is no judgement call to be made. When one of these calls are missed, it is because an umpire could not see it clearly, not because he has a strict homerun zone (you see the analogy to a strike zone there? ).
Managers and umpires will argue just as they always have about safe/out calls, strikezones, pitchers throwing at batters, etc. You act as though all of that will disappear when replay kicks in for homeruns and foul balls.
I have listened to all of the debates from baseball guys like Tim Kursthgoijettan (why even try to spell his name right), Jayson Stark, Peter Gammons and Buster Olney and they don’t ever give the “pastoral, non-technologizal game” as a reason against. It’s generally that it will slow down an already slow game. I’m not saying their views are the end all, be all, but you would think someone would raise that argument if it were a legit stance.
Again, runs are WAY to important in baseball not to get a homerun call correct, which is a CLEAR, SUBJECTIVE in/out call.
**wins**
So, therefore, because it wasn’t on ESPN, my argument is wrong?
I see.
I disagree with instant replay for the same reason why Nolan Ryan disagreed with interleague play. I believe that instant replay goes against the very spirit of the game.
Furthermore, it will, no matter how slowly, open the door to more and more of this — and if you undermine the umpires, you lose control of the game.