Instant replay

NO ! NO ! NO !

quote:

Originally posted by TRhit:
NO ! NO ! NO !

The human factor ( mistakes calling the plays) are important part of baseball, like happens yesterday, so, I don,t figure baseball with instant replay.
I can't image a night at the ball park without any reason to scream to the umpire... Are you blind?

That would really take a significant part of the game away, not being able to effecively yell at the umpire. That would take a lot of the fun out of the game!

i would say no, but with every field having a jumbotron. instant replay is already there. just have to getem to look at it. makes you wonder if they don't already?

I recently read on Yahoo Sports instant replay is on the winter meetings agenda. If it becomes a reality I hope it's an appeal situation made by the manager with a limited number allowed per game. And absolutely forbidden on balls and strikes. Save it for fair/foul, cleared the fence/not, tag outs and forces.

no. umps will make mistakes. at every level of the game. and it should stay like that.

The reason I, as an umpire, do not support instant replay is because of how the game is played. Almost every call made in baseball has a direct affect on the continuing action. We don't have the luxury of lengthy timeouts to huddle on every call to get the call reviewed and relayed back to the field to make the call.

The calls that become controversial are for the most part bang, bang plays. If each of these plays were to be picked apart, scrutinized, reviewed, and spit back out, the games would take hours to finish.

As baseball players you cannot support instant replay for baseball. Because in baseball after a call there is usually continuing action that occurs based on most calls. The ball in baseball is still live. If the original call could be reversed then it might screw the players on continuing action.

Example: Lets review a homerun that hits off the top of the fence, the umpire rules it a HR, the defensive coach wants a review… where would you place the runner when an awarded home run is reversed? Give them a double, a triple? What if the runner is slow and probably would have been put out at second by a beeline throw from one of the outfielders? Do you give the defense an out?

I would only support a replay in one narrow situation. If the play as it was called on the field is a dead ball, and the reversal was also a dead ball. This way nobody would be screwed if the play is reversed.

Example: Batter hits a ball down the line that bounces near the line into the seats. The umpire calls it a foul ball, but the replay shows it was fair. Since both the foul and the "ground-rule" double are dead balls. No harm is done upon a reversal.

Part of the beauty of baseball is the human element that makes the game run. It is only the constant replay after replay that allows people to see what they perceive as mistakes. Angle is one of the most important things in making a call and you almost never see the same angle as the calling umpire.

On the same token, what may be an out from one angle is a missed tag from the opposite angle. What matters is the angle that the umpire has because his is the only opinion that counts!

Just as the player makes a split decision when to swing the bat, I have to choose where to place myself and what to look at. Just as the Short Stop had to decide when to dive, I have to decide if that pitch hit the zone or not. Humans decide everything in baseball and that is the way it should remain. Baseball is the last sport that instant replay hasn't invaded yet and for the most part you the players are, playing the same game as the greats of baseball……Ruth, Cobb, Di Maggio, Mantle, Jackson, Bonds, Ripken, Jeter………allow IR and its not the same game..

Credit should be given in this response to a number of umpires who stated this case better than I did...

Just my .02 .....

The lower the level in baseball, the more blown calls there are. By the time we get to MLB, there really aren't that many game changing calls missed. Yes, it does happen, but really not that often. The pace of the game is long enough, and I as a fan would not want to see it any longer. JMO

I voted "NO"!!

If there was instant replay for the game, the double/home run may or maybe not would have been reversed and after 10+ minutes the play at the plate may or may not have been reversed. More than likely there wouldn't have been enough visual evidence to overturn the call on the field (thought I was a football ref for a second there).

I for one think maybe he got his fingers on the plate before getting stepped on. Least that's the way it looked in HD.

No --- too much of a fundamental change to the spirit of the game.

If, however, you had asked me right after the Denkinger call.....

O Did ya have to bring that up ???

OH MY.. THE PAIN...MY BROKEN TV..HOLES IN MY WALLS

Denkinger gave my brother a World Series ring. Instant replay would've taken it away.

But still, no replay!!

Here you go TD. Squeeze yourself into those Angel Flight pants and grab your Members Only jacket. It's a long way back to this one.

INSTANT REPLAY
Dan Hartman

(Ten nine eight seven six five four three two one)
(Ah-ah-ah-ah)
(Oh)

You set my lips on fire
You won the key to my heart
You've got a special way to move me
Don't stop now let's do it again
You keep me dancing through the moonlight
I feel the pleasure in your touch
And everything you are is heaven
Oh I can't get enough no I can't get enough

(Instant replay) I've got to have it
(Instant replay) ooh woh ooh-ooh
(Instant replay) got to have your love again

I feel so good about us
I found a shining star
And when I look into your eyes it's magic
Well I just know this can't be a dream
I'm so happy must be real
In every way it's getting stronger
Now you know it let me show it

(Instant replay) I've got to have it
(Instant replay) woo-woo-woo-ooh
(Instant replay) got me floating on a cloud
Got me dancing all around all around all around (woo)

Ooh ooh ooh ooh
Eeya-eeya eeya eeya-eeya

D-doo d-doo d-doo-ooh
Ooh ooh ooh ooh
(Instant instant)
(Instant instant instant replay)
Ah ah ah

(Instant replay) instant replay (x2)
(Instant replay) woo ooh ooh ah
I can't stand it I can't stand it
Got to have it 'cause I need it
Don't ya know don't ya know don't ya know
I need your love
I need your love love love
(Instant replay) let me show it (instant replay)
(Instant replay) I need your love
(Instant replay instant replay)
Ooh and I'm feeling overcome (instant replay)
WORDS AND MUSIC BY D. HARTMAN

A big fat NO to instant replay.

The human element is one of the things that makes this game so great. Everyone makes mistakes, they're few and far between so we live with them.

What I have noticed this season in MLB is several times the umpires have all huddled together after a controversial call (usually was it a home run or not) and have reversed the call on occasion.

I applaud them for talking it over to get the call right.

But NO to instant replay!