Instant Replay

I am all for instant replay. Maybe a team could have 1 challenge a game. I think umpires do a great job, but should that human element decide the outcome of a game on a call they made incorrectly? I think it could work given the right circumstances and parameters. With the improvements in technology, they have instant review in tennis, hockey, football. It is going to happen, and I don't think it will impact umpires jobs.

 

Concur.

 

Entitled to Your Opinions

Kevin11 and Trace,
You are most definitely entitled to your opinions regardless of their absurdity. If replay happens I hope it's not until AFTER I'm gone.

What about the "real" strike zone. Are you going to put a camera on the zone and call ALL the strikes? Good luck with that one.

Or maybe you guys want to officially change the way the strike zone is described in the rules?

Those sports with Replay have found out that for all the fixes that replay provides it opens just as many new cans of worms.

NO THANKS!

 

opinions.....

I think the absurdity would be in replaying every pitch and strike zone, which by they way, QTEC, does do in what 16 ballparks. However, the rational use would be with Jeter's homerun that wasn't a few years back, phantom tags, umpires missing a safe/out call like with the cardinals in the 80's (?) Fair or foul balls. These were game changing calls that were made in a split second and were incorrect, and review would have corrected them.

As I said parameters and guidelines must be installed, 1 challenge per game.

And who said anything about changing rules or the strike zone?

What are these new cans of worms? TD's awarded correctly, fumbles ruled correctly, goals allowed or taken away, or balls in or out on the tennis court?

 

I must admit that my family is still haunted by that lousy call

But put me down as a "No" on instant replay.

 

But Kevin11
if we start using replay to overturn "phantom" tags. are we going to use replay to overturn an out call when the 2b or ss is clearly not on the bag? what about when a 1b pulls off early to throw the ball around on an obvious out. the fact is if you start using replay, and you give managers challenges, thats whats going to happen. umpires aren't going to make a call and then go you know what i might be wrong...lets go to the video tape. sorry.

the human decisions made by umpires make the game what it is...you want computers making decisions go play xbox.

 

My opinion is it should be used in the playoffs. There are too many games per year to have it every single regular season game, but when it comes down to calls eliminating teams from the postseason then a review should be necesarry. Not for bang bang plays but like questionable home runs, plays at the plate, or leaving early on tag ups. Those calls really change games.

 

How does it work?

OK Instant Replay people. Here's one.

Bases Loaded. Ball is raked down the RF line. Umpire calls it foul. Play stops!

Then the umpire says over a PA that the entire ballpark can hear....

"After further review................Fair Ball" NOW WHAT? Is it a Double? Triple? Inside the park HR? Maybe he blows a Hammy and would have been laying on the ground 15 feet short of the bag at 1B? What's the call?

One of the joys of Baseball is "What you see is what you get." We don't need to look for penalty flags or "further review." As soon as the call is made we are FREE to react because it is what it is.

Then our managers (like Pinella) will have to learn which plays are reviewable and which are not.......... that should be fun.

Then we'll have 4 hour games instead of the current 2:48.

What about the injuries around the bag at 2B when MIF actually have to be ON the bag when turning two or actually tag a 240 pound guy on the knee when he is coming in to the bag instead of sweeping and getting the call? The instant replay will put several of our MIF guys on the DL for sure. Either that or embarrass them for a Phantom DP or a sweep tag that missed by a foot.

Let's say you're a Phillies guy and Rollins is your man. Then he gets crunched on a tag play in GAME 1 of the playoffs and see ya. Phillies season over.

Sure you want that?

 

No Instant Replay - Yes to Questec

I am all for getting the call correct after all that is the reason you have trained umpires, but there are many reasons why I don't think it fits in baseball.

The Questec argument I would venture to say might parallel the background of the person making the argument. Pitchers and Pitchers Dad's AGAINST and Hitters and Hitters Dad's FOR IT The phrase you commonly hear from batters, pitchers, and coaches is you want consistency in your calls - and I continue to believe that also. But there are some umpires with some zones that are almost unhittable, granted the Pitcher has to hit that spot, but by unhittable I mean unhittable. The Questec device steers umpires into a zone that is more consistent and meets the rules of the game.

 

Umpires Know

Believe me. The Umpires are shown their strike zone calls as a training tool. AND they've improved............for the most part.