What's the holdup?

by Adam Bartel 5/24/2008 7:11:00 AM

Last night, Indians outfielder Ben Francisco hit a ball that clearly was a home run.  The umpires, however, saw it differently, and called the ball in play.

This is just one of multiple instances this week where there's been a controversy over whether a ball went out of the park or not (ESPN, in its infinite wisdom, has decided to make neither the Indians game clip nor their piece that compiled all of the incidents available online).  So the question becomes, why can't instant replay be implemented in MLB?

With every park nowadays having an outfield fence with at least 20 unique quirks, and the fans being right on top of the fence, umpires simply don't know what to look for anymore.

What's that, you say?  It's going to slow up the game?  There'll be too many plays in question?  Fine, I'll meet you halfway.  Let's only review potential home runs.  A couple video reviews ought to take care of any questions on that.  What will that take, maybe a minute?

I'm willing to go with that for a year or two, just to prove that it can work, and once that happens then we can look at expanding replay.  Do we really need to have a World Series game decided by a blown call before any action gets taken?

Oh, wait, I forgot, that's how Bud Selig operates.  Wait till the problem actually occurs, and then look at everything after the fact.  Come on, step it up guys.  This isn't tough, make the right call.

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5/24/2008 11:05:27 AM

Jimmy Dinsmore

great compromise Adam. Only review HRs. I'll even meet your further, let's review HRs and ALL plays at the plate (as in safe or out, foot on plate before glove). And that's it. That won't slow the game up, but won't let idiot umpires control the games. Officials, in all sports, are not there to impose their will over the game, they are their to officiate the game. It's so damn frustrating when they blow things. And the replay will watch over totally egregious officiating.
Replay should not be used for balls or strikes or out at first, but only for truly game changing instances like HRs and plays at the plate.

Jimmy Dinsmore

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