Kurtz
Registered User
- Jul 17, 2005
- 10,125
- 7,019
The more I see instant reply in baseball, the less I like it. A long time ago I was a firm proponent of: "Use the technology to make sure the call is right." But, after seeing it in practice for a few years now, there are just two many examples of it not being clear, which leads to confusing and bizarre outcomes.
I'm at the point where I want to see extreme limits on the use of replay. Scoring plays only (homeruns and plays at the plate) and one manager challenge per game and that is it. No extra challenges if one is successful and no umpire challenges.
The whole point of replay was to eliminate the whole: "Horrible call by umpire costs X Team game/pennant/series/etc." But instead, we're now seeing: "Bizarre call by replay official costs X Team game/pennant/series/etc."
Yep. I think the replay is a good idea, but the current implementation is still broken. Not only do the league calls on close plays appear to be arbitrary, but you have managers slowing down the game by asking the ump to wait for their boys to review the play 10 times a game before they decide to challenge.
I would almost want to get rid of the managers challenge all-together. Keep the ump challenge for the bigger calls (like fans reaching over the fence and turning a double into a HR) or two umps seeing a big call different ways, but if we're talking about challenging plays where a runner might have been 2 centimeters off the bag, which the league gets wrong half the time with the replay regardless...those can go.
I think the NHL nailed it with the rule adjustment this year - if a coach challenges and gets it wrong, that's a 2 minute penalty. Keeps us from seeing those immaterial skate-blade off-side replays, but still allows coaches to challenge the obvious mistakes. Sadly, there's probably no similar punishment mechanic available in baseball.