I wonder why…
Bill Chuck, a respected baseball writer and colleague here at Baseball Digest Daily recently asserted that he had finally crossed over to the dark side. That is, Chuck feels as if baseball finally needs to implement instant replay, “I hate to say this but baseball needs to allow umpires access to video replays. I do mean to create a controversy with this, but we have come to point were replay is needed for calls of fact, not judgment.”
For anyone who saw the Yankees-Mets game on Sunday Night Baseball this past weekend, you can understand where Chuck is coming from. In an obvious home run by Carlos Delgado that was originally called a home run and was eventually overturned (based on what, no one knows).
Chuck writes, “[The umpires] do a terrific job making split-second decisions. Occasionally they make a mistake, but every now and then a player makes an error.” Let us keep this in mind as we consider the instant replay debate.
In defence of the old school Chuck does present points to suggest why MLB should not implement instant replay, asserting the ‘time factor’, citing instances when watching an NFL game that he would switch the channel during an instant reply situation. Additionally, Chuck questions how far instant replay will go. For now it may be to determine home runs, foul balls, etc, but how long before balls and strikes are ‘challengeable’? Furthermore, Chuck questions how long before these calls are being challenged from a satellite review location? However he does believe that the umpire’s should have the first and final say, and that managers shouldn’t be allowed to ‘ask’ for a replay.
I then question the merits of instant replay? While the umpires currently will convene to make the best and presumably correct call, wouldn’t an umpire going to instant replay suggest that they do not know? If they cannot make a decision on a home run, foul ball, or something of that sort, how can they be trusted to call a ball or strike when there are fewer eyes on it (simply the home plate umpire) and the margin for error is so slim?
Recently, MLB General Managers voted in favor of adding instant replay in a reported 25 to 5 vote. This was the first time that the vote went through, and will be formally sent to Commissioner Bud Selig, who has been openly against instant replay. Although this sentiment may change as Selig has never had to veto what the MLB GM’s would prefer in this scenario.
"I don't like instant replay because I don't like all the
delays," Selig said. "I think it sometimes creates as many problems
or more than it solves. But I am willing to say we'll at least talk about this
if people want to talk about it. I'm going to let the general managers discuss
it, let them come back and make recommendations. No, I'm not a big advocate of
instant replay."
The vote however was to be based on home run calls alone. That is, according to MLB.com, the GM’s voted to “explore the possibility of using the video technology to help decide disputed home run calls: fair or foul, in or out of the ballpark.”
Personally, I do not see the need for instant replay. Out of the 2430 games played during the regular season, how many are decided by a missed home run call? Consider that according to ESPN’s analysis of QuesTec computer system in 2005, the home plate umpire is making the right call on balls and strikes 94% of the time. If this is true for an instant reaction call where there are only two eyes on the ball, what is the percent of home runs that are not called correctly?
What is your opinion on this? Should MLB implement instant replay? And to what extent? And if you are adventurous (or bored), why?