Baseball to adopt Instant Replay

I like the plans they have in place, but I hope that they don't come to the point of using technology to:

• determine whether a runner was safe or out.
• determine whether a pitch was a strike or a ball.
• etc.

I also hope they don't implement challenges. The umpire should simply use instant replay when he is unsure.

My picture of Angel Hernandez was actually a pregame photo. However, I witnessed a previous incident where he ejected a player (Julio Lugo) from a game for reasons that could never be figured out. I really don't like this guy.

bickleyhouse has contributed a photo to this story.

Umpires conferring at a White Sox/Rockies game. Instant replay would be a mistake. Hopefully, the limited parameters will be maintained at worst and repealed at best. Help us all if they start calling balls and strikes.

Topher. has contributed a photo to this story.

perhaps they can adopt the 'challenge' rule like in tennis. They can use the instant replay but both side can only have a limited challenge to use it. Once they run out they can't go back to it. But then you have the question about extra innings. Perhaps one extra challenge after the 10th. I too hope they don't argue on strikes and balls. 

Jeff Kent joked with 2nd base ump Angel Hernandez while taking up his position for the next half inning.

shaindlin has contributed a photo to this story.

05/14/08 New York Yankees at Tampa Bay Rays.
Derek Jeter discusses the batters box with umpire.

Deborah Reardon has contributed a photo to this story.

Hi Jeff  and everyone.........I agree completely with your opening comments. However; I don't think my photo would represent one of those moments that would "need" instant replay. But it was an unusual capture of Derek Jeter questioning an umpire.

Thanks for your interest in my photo.

"Replays will be limited to boundary calls, such as determining whether fly balls were fair or foul, or whether they went over fences."  .......... I do think that this is a good idea.

South Bend Silverhawks Manager Mark Haley, 2008

by Tommie Lee, WAOR Radio

Mark is a great manager, and a friend of the show.

tleewaor has contributed a photo to this story.

As someone who appreciates a well called game (whether or not it goes the way of my team), I like the idea of instant replay for limited use. I would not mind a small expansion to include some plays at the plate. I agree that each team should have a limited number of "challenges" they can make, so the manager (or whoever) will be forced to question whether that challenge is really worth the fight.

This was a very close play at third base. Tag was not made on the runner, but he was called out. It was a very close game and the correct or not correct call in this case could have made a big difference in the outcome of the game

Now public is a great new way to report news.  I am glad you contacted me about using some of my pictures.  As a former minor league umpire for 11 years working my last three years in Triple A, I can attest that the boundary calls are the most difficult because the fast-moving ball goes through a white background (sky, billboard, white shirt, etc.) and you lose sight of the ball.  In an instant the ball is back on the field or in the grandstand.  You are forced to make a call without knowledge.  Not knowing while the TV audience watches slow motion replays from many different angles is the worst feeling for an umpire who truly cares and works very hard to get every call right.

 

I favor this rule change/addition as long as the umpires are the ones who decide whether to view the replay.  I have not given this much thought or talked to any of my friends umpiring MLB so I reserve the right to change my opinion as the administrative decision may create even more problems.  We don't want managers running to the TV monitors in the dugout and listening to announcers who have no skill at watching replays (or even broadcasting the real game of baseball) to decide whether their team wants to review the call.  I trust the umpire crew to decide when to utilize the replay booth.  The prerequisite that there must be solid evidence to change a call must be part of this new process.  Otherwise a desire to please a manager or team might come into the decision-making. 

Personal Editorial:

Professional umpiring has changed very much ever since Sandy Alderson took over umpire administration.  The game has become more about the superstar players and pleasing the television audience.  No surprise, a ball player took over the supervision of umpires.  Umpires are much less happy and the close friendships and desire to help one another improve has left the major league level.  Some appointed baseball people now judge the umpires during their games and send them a report on what they did right or wrong on the field.  I would like to push these off-field umpires out the window with the TV guys who place the strike zone rectangle on the screen. 

Politics once again has taken much away from our national pasttime.  Mr. Alderson, marine and attorney, definitely knew the right person to get his job.  Just like getting to be the General Manager of the Oakland A's when his father-in-law bought the team, his support for Commissioner Bud Selig must have landed him the job of Executive VP of baseball operations.  Let's go one step further and put a former player in charge of the MLB, NBA, and NFL officials.  Imagine what would happen then.   Field officials will have to learn to do cartwheels when a player makes a good play so we can add to the entertainment value of the game.  

Shawn Kimball, minor league umpire 1979-1989
Avid supporter of sports officials (http://embua.wordpress.com)
shawnkball@gmail.com

This was taken at an Ottawa Rapidz game on August 1st. The opposing coach objected to a runner being declared safe after making it home, although he clearly _was_, so the only thing I can see is that said runner didn't tag 3rd as he rounded it, a fact I obviously missed.

Both the coach and the catcher were quite upset, (the catcher began throwing things - gatorade container, equipment - onto the field), resulting in both being ejected from the game. Quite entertaining.

generica has contributed a photo to this story.

It was a tense moment for all in the stands at Dodger stadium. Brad Penny of the Dodgers delivered a high fast ball that missed it's mark and tagged the umpire in the neck. The umpire was hit and he stood there by home plate and in a delayed motion went down to the ground. The fans in the stands were quite for a few minutes until the ambulance came and picked him up. We heard later that the umpire was doiong well but had been kept at the local hospital for observation.

rick.lomeli has contributed a photo to this story.

don't like the

Technology today is really pushing this change-I work for Sharp TV which is the official HDTV of MLB because there is no blurring, great contrast, and with the multiple camera angles, it allows viewers at home to precisely see what is happening on the field for the first time. It seems appropriate that homers and foul balls be able to be reviewed so that fans don't get disgruntled.  I also had an interesting conversation with a friend who noted that there have been many changes in the game since the 1800s including a season in which a 4 strike rule was implemented and then revoked because no one liked it.  I think MLB is considerate enough to move slowly, and if something begins to make the game overly mechanical, it will be revoked.

I appreciate hearing the umpire's viewpoint. Thanks for chiming in