MLB Instant Replay: Is it time?

Thump · #1 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 07:44 PM

After seeing the high profile umpiring errors this post season, do you baseball fans out there think it's time to implement some type of instant replay in baseball?

I'm straddling the fence on this one, I see both sides of the issue, I'm a baseball purist who thinks human error is part of the game and it usually evens out but I also see where if we have the opportunity to get it right then we owe it to the players and fans.

I'm really anxious to hear JonathanXC's view on this being he's an accomplished umpire.

Would umps feel that they are being shown up if a replay proves them wrong?

I do have to say, and maybe JonathanXC disagrees, but it seems as if some of the umpires as of late enjoy baiting managers and players into arguments almost as if they want to be the center of attention.

I know there were past umps like Ron Luciano that were the same way but it seems as if it's getting more prevalent but maybe that's just due to the increased media coverage of baseball in the past 15 years.

Anxious to hear some opinions on this.

Bucktastic · #2 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 08:10 PM

I would have to say, maybe.....but only for certain plays (foul pole issues, maybe hit batsman).....but definately not for balls and strikes. That "crapzone" thing they have behind some homeplates are ridiculous, IMO.

Tough call though.

LoKyBuckeye · #3 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 08:13 PM

MLB needs to speed up the game... adding replay would slow it down even more. Just because the technology is there doesn't mean it has to be used... IMHO.

BB73 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 08:48 PM

Holy Don Denkinger, Batman!

I agree that replay would slow down baseball too much. If they ever do it, it should be only for plays that don't involve the batter, and it should be done from the booth, not allowing any managers to initiate it.

But can you imagine if Jeffrey Maier has caught that ball with 2 outs in the 9th inning of Game 7 of the World Series?

Brutus1 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 09:04 PM

Yes. For plays at the plate, foul pole issues and plays at the bases.

Golferdow01 · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2005, 09:47 PM

It's a good idea, but I don't think there are enough questionable calls in the MLB that warrant the use. It could start getting way overused as well with called strikes and balls and such. I also agree the game is slow enough that integrating that could make it painful.

JXC · #7 (**permalink**) 10-26-2005, 12:39 AM

My question is...if you used replay? How and when would you use it? Would it be before the next pitch? Also...like today's call, that was called a Home Run by Angel Hernandez, but replay showed it was not a homerun...what do you do? The ball should have been ruled in play, but it was ruled a home run? There is no way to tell what base the runner would have ended up on had the umpire not ruled home run. Would this cause umpires to rule that the ball is still in play, and then rely on replay more often. I am of course against all forms of baseball replay. I'm agianst replay in football too, because it is manipulated. Teams call time outs, while other teams hurry up and spike the ball. That's BS. Also, some things are reviewable and some aren't. That's not really that fair. What if one mistake is overturned and helps team A, yet another mistake that unfairly hurt team B, can't be overturned, so team A again benefits. Whereas if there was no replay at all. the errors would have evened themselves out. Baseball is fair as it is right now. I don't see a big problem. Baseball is fine the way it is.