It’s been debated for years, with only minimal progress being made. No, it is not almost everything in our political situation in America.
It’s Major League Baseball‘s venture into instant replay; or lack thereof.
History: Major League Baseball was the last of the four major sports in the United States to adopt any form of instant replay. While the current system was implemented in 2008, the first use of replay actually predates the new millennium. In 1999, a game between the Florida Marlins and St. Louis Cardinals was played where Marlin outfielder Cliff Floyd hit a ball off the top of the left field scoreboard at Pro Player Stadium. Umpire Frank Pulli consulted a monitor in the Marlins’ dugout and ruled that Floyd had to return to second base.
The first official use of replay occurred on Sept. 3, 2008 in a game between the visiting New York Yankees and division rival Tampa Bay Rays. Yankee third baseman Alex Rodriguez hit a ball down the left field line that was ruled a home run by third base umpire Bryce DePuy. Joe Maddon, the manager of the Rays, demanded the umpires take a look. The umpires obliged, but returned with the same decision as before. Thus, the current system of instant replay was born.
With recent events in Major League Baseball (see: Armando Galarraga’s perfect game spoiled), what exactly is the delay with replay?
(AP Photo)
Arguments For: There are a couple main arguments for replay:
* The technology exists
* Could speed up the game
* Get the call right is the most important thing.
Arguments Against: There are also a couple main arguments against replay:
* Human element should not be compromised
* Could lengthen the game
* How extensive would it get?
One way it could be done: There is a very simple way of implementing a quick form of replay:
* A fifth umpire could be put into the press box.
*If a play comes into question, this umpire could have reviewed the play numerous times already by the time the officiating crew decides to ask for his help.
* The home plate umpire could then make a call from a phone placed in the tunnel behind the plate.
* The decision could be rendered from this official, and time would actually be cut from the game where the manager would otherwise be arguing his case.
The only argument from the critics that now still stands is the view that “the human element is important to the game”. The issue with this logic is that the human element can still be kept in tact by limiting the number of challenges a team can have per game, while also limiting what can be challenged. It is done this way in every other sport, so why would baseball fans be worried about that? It seems like a desperate attempt at being right.
Replay is not the end of baseball; it is the beginning of returning integrity to the game.
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