Instant Nobrainer

In recent memory, every baseball season has a few things in common. The Yankees and Sox competing atop the AL East, cheesy wedding proposals at stadiums across the country, prospects who we never heard of being exchanged for all-stars, (that unfortunately includes anybody now just ask all-star starter Scott Rolen whose batting .242 with 5 homeruns) and of course the question should there be instant replay? The simple answer is yes. Why do commentators have to keep asking this routine question about the use of instant replay? The Braves and Pirates recently played a compelling 19 inning game that was decided on a blown call. If you don’t believe me just ask the umpire Jerry Meals who made the call.

"After coming into the locker room, I reviewed the incident through our videos that we have in here and after seeing a few of them, on one particular replay, I was able to see that Lugo's pant leg moved ever so slightly when the swipe tag was attempted by McKenry," That's telling me that I was incorrect in my decision and that he should have been ruled out and not safe."

Okay so let me get this straight. The umpire admitted to a mistake and says with the assistance of instant replay he would have made the correct call. Again let me repeat, instant replay would have resulted in the Correct Call. So why are critics against this again? Joe Torre who I greatly respect, currently holds the title of Major League Baseball Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. I have no idea what that title entails, but his assessment of the scenario remains ludicrous,

"Most in the game recognize that the human element always will be part of baseball and instant replay can never replace all judgment calls by umpires,"

Maybe not, but it can surely eliminate most blown calls. Do we remember a couple of years ago when people wanted to see instant replay on homerun balls? Traditionalists complained saying it would cause too much of a delay in the game. Next thing you know, controversial fair or foul homerun balls became talking points and more relevant to discuss then the game itself. Shortly after in the middle of the season, instant replay was installed. It has never been debated since and most would agree it has benefited the overall product of the game. So why not extend instant replay?

There remain baseball purists who do not want to taint America’s past time by further using instant replay. (In case steroid users did not already do this) Look its 2011, can we please use modern technology to improve the game. If a sold out crowd and millions of fans watching on television can get the call right, an umpire (who let’s remember gets paid to do this) should also be able to make the correct calls. Usually problems in sports do not have easy answers such as the NBA Lockout, drug testing for HGH, and how to get casual viewers to watch golf without Tiger Woods. Luckily a simple solution is in place for baseball to get the calls right. It is called Instant Replay which last time I checked leads to accurate and Instant Results.

I understand not wanting to use Instant Replay on every pitch trying to determine whether or not it is a strike or ball. Just like in the NBA you cannot have a referee going to the video monitor after every time a charge is called to determine if it is an offensive or defensive foul. But plays at the plate or at first plate have no excuse of being called incorrectly. Find me a fan who says “I wish we didn’t have instant replay so the refs could get the calls wrong.”

Instant replay works in football, basketball, hockey, and tennis. Looking at these sports should only help encourage the use of additional instant replay in baseball. Heck, I am still shocked as to why soccer does not use any form of instant replay after repeated mistakes by referees on plays such as handballs, off sides, fouls in the penalty box and whether or not the entire soccer ball crossed the line for a goal. Sure instant replay slightly breaks the momentum of the game, but as a fan wouldn’t you rather see the correct calls being made if it means an extra five minutes of looking at instant replays? Umpires should also want instant replay to help them on difficult decisions, that way they do not become an embarrassment on the sport and themselves. Remember Jim Joyce who made a name for himself by ruining Armando Galarraga’s perfect game. Umpires should not be rewriting history. Let coaches coach, players play, and umpires ump by using instant replay.