Friday, December 17, 2010

Instant Replay in Major League Baseball

They have it in the NFL, NHL, and NBA. They even have it in MLS. It's called Instant Replay. So my question to Commisioner Bud Selig is, "What are you waiting for"? There have been many situations this past season that could've used another crucial look. For instance, Armando Gallaraga's perfect game that almost was, until Umpire Jim Joyce blew it. In this era of sports, instant replay has been used to make the game more balanced, more even. In the NFL they even use it just to determine the spot of the football and more. In the NHL they use it to determine whether the puck went in before the net was dislodged from it's pegs. In the NBA; to determine if a shot went in before the buzzer. So again Bud Selig, what's the deal? Even the umpires want to get their own call right, in fact many umpires have supported expanding the use of instant replays, past determining home runs. Red Sox outfielder Mike Cameron put it nicely when he said " We're going to replay it forever for the next two months anyway, so you might as well do it in the two minutes it takes to get it right." Of course there will always be a need for that "human element" in the game, but this is a changing sport, much like the other sports I mentioned earlier. I would like to see a challenge system worked in, much like the NFL runs their own replay system.
It's June 2, 2010, Armando Gallaraga is pitching the game of his life. It's the top of the 9th inning, 2 outs. It's the situation every Little League player dreams of, minus the World Series of course. Jason Donald of the Cleveland Indians, hits a ground ball to 1st baseman, Miguel Cabrera. Gallaraga immediately runs to cover 1st base, Cabrera tosses it, Gallaraga catches it, steps on 1st in plenty of time for the out. That's how we all saw it unfold before our eyes, and certainly that's how Gallaraga saw it happen. Even Jason Donald knew he was out but, he was called safe on the play and Gallaraga got the next batter to ground out to complete his "one-hit perfect game." After the game was over, Jim Joyce saw the replay on tv and immediately issued a tearful apology to Gallaraga and the fans. I feel bad for Joyce, but this whole situation could've been avoided if Bud Selig would just expand the instant replay policy past home runs only. Gallaraga excused Joyce and said that he (Joyce) is only humans, humans make mistakes, but I think deep down, Gallaraga wishes there was instant replay for plays specific to his. MLB reviewed the play and the call over the next few days and did nothing about it. Nothing. The very next batter grounded out to end the game, so it's not changing much by reversing the call and rewarding Gallaraga a very well-earned milestone.
So, I'll end by offering Bud Selig some advice from our very own President Obama. Now is the time for change.

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