So 2 days ago I posted about MLB adopting instant replay but only for 2 occasions, to review a home run and balls that are fair or foul. Well since that night, where the Delgado home run went uncredited there has been 2 more instances for replay to be brought into the sport.
On Monday in Houston Geovany Soto, the Chicago Cubs catcher hit a ball into deep center which ultimately ended up as a inside the park home run. Yea thats exciting but thats not the brunt of the story. The ball Soto hit should have been ruled an immediate home run, one where he didn't have to run at full speed to reach home plate. Soto's shot bounced just to the right of the yellow line on the wall in left-center field. The area in question is a patch above the left field wall and below an area where fans stand. If the ball hits on the green wall in that area it's a home run, if it hits the yellow or back in the corner it is in play.
The ruling was that the ball was in play, once again a wrong call from an umpire, but this time baseball executives went to action. The next day, Houston Astros grounds crew and maintenance painted the portion in question so there would be no more confusion in the future.
In today's Yankees vs. Orioles game, Alex Rodriguez hit 2 home runs, only 1 counted. After hitting a ball deep into right center field the ball hit off the stairs that lead up to the bleachers BEHIND THE OUTFIELD WALL. The stairs are painted yellow, yet the umpires did not see where the ball originally hit as it quickly bounced off the stairs and back into the field. Rodriguez was credited with a double, yet as he slid into second base he asked the umpire if it was indeed a home run. Joe Girardi the Yankees manager came out of the dug out but went back as the umpiring crew got together to discuss the play. The umpires again got another call wrong at the expense of the Yankees and Alex Rodriguez's home run count. The results wouldn't have mattered as the Yankees took care of the O's 8-0.
Again I say, bring in instant replay, it will help the sport more than it will hurt it. It will take less time to look at a instant replay monitor and get the play right, then argue with the umpires and then having a 10 minute discussion with the umpires to decide what is the right call. Lets go Bud Selig, the ball is in your court, take the shot.
3 comments:
While I don't agree with the calls that the ump's have been making the last couple of days (as well as the last couple of years), I don't see this being a part of baseball anytime soon. This slows down an already lengthy game. It's already an average of three hours, no need to extend it any further. It's not like the NFL or the NBA, where the games are no longer than an hour on the game clock.
If anything, good ol' Bud should set stronger tests for individuals to become Major League umpires. Let's try to weed out the weaklings and start putting some eagle eyes out there.
It would be nice to have it but how would be used, would it be like football in which you have challenge flags or would it be right there on the spot to see if its fair.
OK, last bash at ya, I promise (for now, anyway)
It's "The Department of Redundancy Department"
See, without the 2nd "department" there's no redundancy
:~O
Post a Comment