You Can Put It On The Board! YES!
Random thoughts on the White Sox from one of their biggest fans!
World Series Champions
1906 - 1917 - 2005
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Upon Further Review.....It was announced today that Major League Baseball will begin using instant replay starting on Thursday. For now, video will be used on so-called "boundary calls", such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence or whether potential home runs were fair or foul.
Videos will be collected at the office of Major League Baseball Advanced Media in New York. If the crew chief at a game decides replay needs to be checked, umpires will leave the field, technicians from MLBAM will show umpires the video and the crew chief will make the call.
The reason that this decision has been rushed in is because of a bunch of missed calls and controversial plays during a two-week period in May. And you know that there is no way baseball wants to enter October without this available.
MLB has been saying that replay will not be expanded. But that is my one worry. Just like a bunch of missed calls happened back in May, what if a bunch of other missed calls happens during the next two weeks? Line drives down the lines, close calls at the plate, people will be screaming for replay. If there is enough heat from fans or ownership groups, I think replay will be expanded. That is why I am against all of this replay business. It will only open the door to expanding this to a lot more other calls. I hope I am wrong and MLB keeps it to only home run calls, but it will be a very sad day if this ever is expanded to more calls.
Games are already taking a very long time. The average time of games are around two and a half hours. How long will replay reviews take? Yes, you want to get the call right on a home run, but you don't want games lasting over three hours.
Another problem I have is when the playoffs start and the extra umpires are added to the games. The two extra umpires are placed on the left and right field lines. What my problem is is that these extra umpires stand right behind the first and third base umpires. Why are they so close? MLB should let the first and third base umps call fair/foul calls down the lines. They should then move the two extra umpires to left center field and right center field. That way they can be out there to see if a ball is really caught. They would also be closer to the walls to see if a ball leaves the yard. It would be much smarter that way instead of having the second base ump dashing to the outfield to try to make the call. Let the two extra umps take care of that.
All in all, it should be interesting to see how things are handled by MLB. Just keep the replay shenanigans to only home run calls and hopefully all of this will work out for the best.
posted by EJ # 9:04 PM 
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