Here is the opening to my Tuesday column about instant replay in baseball:
From time to time, well-meaning but misguided people say the dreaded two words in relation to baseball. I’m reluctant to write the dreaded two words for fear of letting them loose on the world or causing a curse to be visited on me and my loved ones.
Instant replay.
There, I wrote them — and let the gods of baseball be kind to all of us.
The dreaded words were uttered during the All-Star break when reporters asked commissioner Bud Selig if he will expand instant replay. Selig, to his everlasting credit, said, “With instant replay, I think we’re good as is.”
Bless you, Uncle Bud. Whatever you do, hold that line.
To read the full column, click here
Tommy CostaRica
Lowell, I couldn’t believe my eyes as I read this column! You didn’t mention the word “Tradition”?????? I had to go to the find on my browser to double check but the closest you came was using the word trapped. I believe when you’ve written on this subject in the past your point of view was all about tradition and preserving it. It is a wonderful concept, pure and fuzzy good. I would love to see a game in black and white and shot with those big ole’ box movie cameras again; but even that was new technology in it’s day. The speed guns, the huge high resolution scoreboard screens, the night games for prime time, it’s in a constant flux and is a logarithmic computerized equation that cannot be held back. Prime time has no patience for blown calls that wash away wins and perfect games. Bring on the robot plate umps and let’s start playing fair. The kinks will get worked out so that techno umps will be even faster and better for the rhythm of the game than those flawed humans with their egos, agendas and grudges. And let me leave you with this one last point, did anyone check out the box score on Jonathan Sanchez last night?
July 16th, 2012 9:39 pm
Stan
No,baseball isn’t good as is. Its been 40 years of instant replay showing how many blown calls at first. THAT’s where Baseball needs to get right. Ball and strikes maybe some day in the future where there is a perfect way…but First base? Should have a camera right now..today even. Its where all rally’s start Lowell,and where it seems to me the camera shows bad calls clearly.
Baseball needs to change for the better.
July 17th, 2012 7:41 am
Fritz Q "Pepe" Mueller III, Phd.
Just because the NFL’s system is flawed, that doesn’t mean baseball’s has to be, too. One unbiased person watching all the available replays could render a decision in seconds. (And, oh yeah, Byrnes is right.)
July 17th, 2012 8:42 am
Dennis
“The umpire is a regular person like you or me. He is the last voice of the common man in modern sport. Let the voice be loud. Let the players answer to it every inning of every game. And let them remember one more thing. When they answer to that voice, they are answering to us.”
He is only answering to me if I agree with the call. Other than that, I find the inconsistent calls of balls and strikes to be infuriating. In that instance I agree with Eric Byrnes. But I also agree with you about not slowing the game down any more than it painfully is right now. So in the interest of speeding up the game they should do a study and see if fewer managers argue calls because of replay would the game actually speed up. Maybe a one year trial. How many hours of baseball with replay versus without replay. Whatever takes less time overall is the way we go. I am all in.
July 17th, 2012 8:52 am
lameduck
I think if we believe that baseball is a game played by adults for entertainment then the replay should not be introduced. If baseball has become all business then the replay has to be introduced because there is money riding on the call. A different strike zone could mean millions of dollars or a call that changes the outcome of the game could mean playoff money or whatever.
But if its a game and we put our blinders on the business side of the game, no replay is necessary. The umpire should be an unbiased authority figure – super human by that qualification alone. The calls, right or wrong, should be settled on the field. Managers ejected for being right about calls, vs. throwing a red flag. All the excitement or game within the game remains without the replay. A lot of drama is lost with the emotion removed.
Is it all about money or is it a game?
July 17th, 2012 9:11 am
chris
except for balls and strikes, Instant Replay should be used as much as possible in baseball. I dont like that its come to that, but technology is so advanced now with HD and super slow motion that all sports in todays world should be using the technology of todays world……….simple as that.
July 17th, 2012 9:13 am
Steve
Lowell,
When I saw the title to this piece I was ready to disagree with your take in its entirety. However, after reading the column, you make some valid points – emphasis on some. I do feel that football has taken replay to a level that is threatening to destroy the game. Basketball and hockey get it right, limiting the circumstances in which replay can be employed and enhancing the officials ability to get calls correct. Replay in football, on the other hand, seems to have undermined the confidence of the officials to the point that they throw flags for phantom penalties or interpret the rule book on a whim in order to cover their butts.
I don’t and have never believed in the absurd notion of strike zone replays or robots. However, what with the advancements in technology, I do feel that replay can be expanded to insure that the umpires get the calls on the bases or fair/foul correct. I have been watching baseball for decades and cannot recall so many egregiously blown calls as in the last 2-3 years. And I’m not referring to bang bang plays that require split second decisionmaking; I’m talking about plays where the fielder doesn’t even have the ball and the batter/runner is called out! Along with expanded replay the umpires need to be held accountable for their mistakes, whether it be in the form of significant fines, suspensions or termination – umpire’s union be damned – and the disciplinary actions made public. If a manager makes a number of poor decisions, he is fired. If a player can’t cut it in the majors, he is returned to the minors. Baseball as is is still a great sport, but at some point it will suffer as the competency of those making on-field rulings deteriorates.
July 17th, 2012 10:16 am
B-Rad
Lowell fails to convince 6 of the 7 Zohners responding here. No, make
that 7 of 8. A shame you weren’t born 50 or 60 years earlier – no
replays to worry about. Or PEDs. Or designated hitter.
July 17th, 2012 11:17 am
Peter
I have always believed one component to a well played game is when the umpires are mostly unnoticed. However, one of the reasons I enjoy baseball is because the umpires are a vital to the drama, not with personality or being over bearing, but because calls they make are exclamation points to a play. A player slides into a base and it is clear to all he’s safe, but he’s not safe until the call is made. Pitch down the middle is apparently a strike, but not until the ump decides. The split second pause from action for the authority to come down.
Up until a few years ago I too believed in umpires doing the best they can, making calls mostly right but sometimes flawed, just as in life. ”One beauty of baseball…is the absolute authority of the umpires on the field in the middle of the glorious tumult of ball.” Great line.
But ultimately I want accuracy. Player hits a fair ball called foul. Video shows its fair, so correct it. This isn’t absolute truth; its fixing a known wrong. Blown calls ruin the game for me because they are identifiable and could be immediately reversed. I resent the mistakes, both for and against.
As far as delaying the game, enforce the MLB Pace Of Play rules. Make the pitcher throw within the required 12(?) seconds from the time he receives the ball from the catcher and do not allow the batter to step out of the box to fix his junk or whatever. These two steps will by far improve the natural pace of play.
July 17th, 2012 11:46 am
KauaiRobert
I don’t get it.
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Every day there are further advancements and improvements made to equipment, uniforms, facilities, players’ health and everything else.
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Bats that swing faster, balls that travel farther…heck, even the cheese on the nachos is better than it used to be.
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But instant replay–NO WAY!!!
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It’ll ruin the game!
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Rediculous.
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By the way…Byrnes was absolutely 100% correct about Maddox’s huge strike zones.
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If you recall, his gift-wrapped strike calls were almost a regular feature on Sportcenter back in the day.
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They were like running joke to everyone except Maddox, his teammates and Braves fans.
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*ALOHA*
July 17th, 2012 11:56 am
Stan
I hate to say it Lowell,but your argument borders on,if stirrups were good enough for Honus…
July 17th, 2012 12:33 pm
Tommy CostaRica
Jonathan Sanchez designated for assignment today by the Royals. Wow, that was a great trade! We of the Zone knew it before the Royals did, they should of been looking here before they pulled the trigger on that one!
July 17th, 2012 2:45 pm
KauaiRobert
The Sanchez move was great but I’m still bummed about giving up Wheeler.
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*ALOHA*
July 17th, 2012 3:09 pm
Tommy CostaRica
Got this from Wikipedia, thought you might like it.
Designated for assignment is a contractual term used in Major League Baseball. When a player is designated for assignment, he is immediately removed from the club’s 40-man roster. This gives the club 10 days to decide what to do with the player while freeing up a roster spot for another transaction, if needed. After designating a player for assignment, the club must either:
(a) return the player to the 40-man roster within 10 days from the date of designation, or
(b) make one of the following contractual moves:
Place the player on waivers (which can only be done within the first 7 days of the 10-day period)
Trade the player
Release the player
July 17th, 2012 5:01 pm