The issue of instant replay in baseball has been bothering me to no end lately. The push for this change has seemingly come out of nowhere and it is being treated as if there has been talk of replay for decades. Bud Selig needs to put a stop to all this hubbub.
ESPN is on a hellish drive to replay, picking out each and every error in umpiring like they never have before. All of the sudden, that botched call at second base where the Orioles were losing 10-2 in the 8th is being magnified as if it were a 9th inning blown call in game 7. The worldwide leader in sports is being ridiculous, and it will be very interesting to see if Selig bends under the pressure and influence of ESPN. I can only hope that he stands strong and does not submit to ESPN as NCAA football already does. The game of baseball has survived over 150 years without the presence of instant replay and it does not need it now. Just because technology exists does not mean that it's application is necessary.
A few reasons that replay is unnecessary:
1. Yerrr outta here! Hit the showers!
One of my favorite aspects of the game of baseball is the human presence of umpires. Human error is inevitable and it is a fun, frustrating part of the game. Sometimes the highlight of a game is watching Bobby Cox or Lou Piniella explode on an ump and get run from the game. Add in replay, and you'll see a manager nonchalantly walk out to the ump and request a review of the play. Men like Bobby Cox have developed into legends just because of their actions on the field when dealing with umpires.
2. Aren't the games long enough already?
Baseball is already, without a doubt, the slowest moving game of the organized professional team sports in the country to the casual viewer. Adding in extra stoppage time to the already established stoppage time (warm ups before an inning; coaching visits to the mound; catchers visits to the mound; injuries; pitching changes etc.) will put games at probably about an average time of 4.5 hours. And that's before anyone even knows how many "challenges" a team may have.
3. Sic transit gloria (glory fades...)
Let's travel back a few months to last year's postseason. Remember the extra inning affair between the Padres and Rockies for the chance to punch a ticket to October? Matt Holliday comes barreling into home plate, head first, knocking himself silly and is called safe for the win in extras. The Rockies storm the plate to pick up their slightly unconscious teammate and celebrate with the hometown fans on their way to an eventual World Series appearance. Well, a little more than half a year later and I still don't know if Holliday was safe or out. I don't even know if he touched the plate, and I have seen every replay there is for that play. If the celebration had been suspended and the call reversed, there would have been a full-on riot on that field. Many baseball plays are designed for a split-second call and decision, to be reviewed later. There is no room under many baseball circumstances for instant replay in baseball.
Keep the game pure, DON'T GO TO REPLAY! Lay off ESPN. Keep your influence in college football, go find some Trojans or Wolverines to overhype.
