Football does it. Basketball does it. And those sports are all the better for it.
Baseball has always been a game that has winced at the idea of change. Any suggestion of adding technology to the rules of the game has made those in authority about as uncomfortable as a first-time Karaoke singer. But this week, when Major League Baseball's general managers approved a proposal that would introduce instant replay to the game, it was a call to action that the owners and Commissioner's office should not and maybe cannot ignore.
The proposal primarily involves homerun rulings. Instant replay would be used to help distinguish if a ball made it over the fence or inside the foul pole.
Granted, baseball is a game built upon human influence. A strike zone can differ from umpire to umpire, and close plays at the bags wouldn't be the same if an ump knew his call was up for review. I mean, we wouldn't want to discourage those classic umpire-manager verbal spats, would we? But just like hoops and football, certain calls would be safe (no pun intended) , under the guidelines of replay. And if hitting a baseball off Major League pitching is the most difficult thing in sports, as many have proclaimed, then shouldn't a player who hits one over the wall, back-scratcher or not, be rightfully awarded a four-bagger?
I'd even go a step further, and say that questionable catches should be reviewed. A guy traps a fly ball, then call the batter safe at first, and let any runners advance a base. Other judgement calls would of course be protected, like bang-bang plays at first or tag plays at second.
We don't want shots that are released after the clock expires to wrongly crown a winner in basketball, nor do we want to give credit to false touchdowns. Let's give baseball players and fans their due, and help the game run properly...even if it requires some "new-school" thinking.
The GM's have spoken...and if they think it's a good enough idea to consider, then their employers should follow suit.
- Kanoa Leahey
5 comments:
I like the idea I just hope it doesn't make 4 hour games even longer!!!! lol
I know it will probably make the game better, but I like the fact that umpires (humans) make the call in crucial moments of an exciting game. I like the intant call and crowd goes nuts. I would hate to wait for a replay. good column kanoa you guys are all da bess!
I think it might be good to review if a player actually touches home plate to end a one game playoff in extra innings. For the Padres sake, at least.
-Welker4MVP
aloha welker.
happy to see another one join the leahey/demello team. lol & i agree. Must suck to be the padres right now. plus I think their pitching would ave made for a better matchup against the sox.
Peavy against Beckett would've been an excellent start to the series but, I think the Sox could've swept them, too. Even if the Padres had a lead going late, Hoffman looked too gased (at the end of the season) to hold it and they couldn't come close to matching the fire power of the Sox.
I don't know if I'm the best judge for this, though. I am a Sox fan and I tend to favor them.
-Welker4MVP
Trying to get some friends to check out this site, too.
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