Baseball and instant replay...

by madpoopz on Oct 10, 2009 12:31 PM EDT

it has become glaringly obvious over the past few days that MLB umpiring kinda sucks. In our one game playoff against the Twins a crucial call was missed when Brandon Inge got hit by a pitch. A run would've been forced in if I remember right, a faster guy would've than been at 3rd, and the next batter would've gotten an rbi off a slow chopper. The blown call may have cost us a win. Now all we have is a memory of a really good game.

The failing hasn't stopped there either. They missed another call in the Twins/Yankees game. I'm not entirely familiar with that situation so I won't attempt to describe it nor try to cast judgment. Given my feelings for both teams right now. I think it's best this way.

So now I ask a question to my fellow baseball followers: Should instant replay usage be expanded in baseball?

Personally I'm not really sure. Up to this point in time I've been a purist about the situation and have stood on "No Instant Replay. At all." But given the recent costly situations and my increased viewage of the game (thanks mostly to this blog) I am now reconsidering.

So now we have something here to discuss. Should we expand instant replay and how much should we expand it if at all?

Poll

Should instant replay be expanded in the MLB?

EXPAND IT! I'M TIRED OF BLOWN CALLS!

19 votes

Keep it the same.

3 votes

This new fangled techno mumbo jumbo is ruining the sport. Get rid of it!

4 votes

26 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff.

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Comments

I’m not in favor of any instant replay, really. I don’t like the umps running off into the tunnel already.

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by Kurt Mensching on Oct 10, 2009 1:28 PM EDT reply actions

yep...

if the MLB does go the route of instant replay it’s something that will have to be very well regulated.

I think I still feel the same as I used to on the issue.

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by madpoopz on Oct 10, 2009 1:55 PM EDT up reply actions

+1

It’s the TV broadcasts that are even creating the need for it. If we couldn’t see replays in extra-super-duper-slow-motion in a bazillion megapixels of high def, we wouldn’t be able to tell anyway.

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by handsomerob1 on Oct 21, 2009 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Fangraphs had a solution up today

Use an extra ump who is just watching the game on TV- that way all the crew chief has to do is call up for a play- short, efficient.

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by David Tokarz on Oct 21, 2009 9:49 PM EDT up reply actions

that is definitely something I never thought of...

but than the MLB would have to bring in more umps. There’d be a few more mistakes going on initially. We’d have to suffer through a lot of replays for a while. But over all I kinda like this solution. It’s not like the new umps would be bad for long or even at all. The pace of a baseball game doesn’t change much from one level to the next, just egos and the importance of the calls. So we wouldn’t have the trouble the NBA had with the replacement refs.

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by madpoopz on Oct 22, 2009 7:57 AM EDT up reply actions

That puts the burden onto the networks

Thanks, but no thanks. Got enough east coast bias as it is. I’d rather be pissed at an ump blowing a call instead of a network not showing the angle needed.

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by john.kmiecik on Oct 22, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions

that's the advantage the NFL has...

since they use national broadcasting. The bias can be restrained much easier.

I’m starting to sound kinda flip floppy here. I still don’t know what I think on this question really.

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by madpoopz on Oct 22, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions

You could probably order camera angles from MLB headquarters

Send it to a national review office- ala the NHL.

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by David Tokarz on Oct 23, 2009 2:17 AM EDT up reply actions

I don't like instant replay.

I would like better umpiring across the board, with a focus on consistency of strike zones. Baseball is unwilling to attack the issue, however.

by rook34 on Oct 10, 2009 2:46 PM EDT reply actions

I am with Ron Gardenhire

Give each team two red flags to utilize replay with. If the team bungles their use of them, well, that’s their problem.

by peazgrl on Oct 10, 2009 2:51 PM EDT reply actions

+1

That sounds incredibly reasonable.

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by David Tokarz on Oct 10, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Ugh.

2x flag + 2x teams = 4 stoppages in play per game that are much longer than normal. Games aren’t long enough already, y’know. The fact that we don’t play for six hours per game offends me. (Warning: sarcasm)

If you really think the red flag scenario will work, do it this way. One flag per team. If the challenge is wrong, charge the team an out (add for offense, remove for defense).

Enjoy figuring that shit out with stats.

Sorry folks but this isn’t football. It’s just not going to work like this. I’m with Kurt on this one. The occasional home run review, fine. Blown calls happen and have been part of the sport forever. I don’t want to start nickel and dimeing (diming?) the game to death.

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by john.kmiecik on Oct 10, 2009 4:11 PM EDT up reply actions

Make it faster

Use a booth or send the calls to Milwaukee or wherever baseball is based (like they do in Hockey).

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by David Tokarz on Oct 10, 2009 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

pretty much is the more sensible suggestion...

it solves many problems, keeps baseball pure, and won’t slow down games.

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by madpoopz on Oct 10, 2009 9:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Keep it simple this isn't rocket science here

- all homeruns reviews are done by the umps,
- each coach gets 2 flags
- no challege on balls or strikes
- the umps have 90 sec to view the replay and make the call

Yes the game might slow down a little, if you want make it just one flag per per coach, bottom line if the ump get’s the call right with inge we might still be playing right now.

by msivits on Oct 13, 2009 2:11 PM EDT reply actions

There are alot of various situations that occur in baseball that need to be considered. These complicate the rules regarding review and will definitely require more than just 4 simple stipulations.

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by madpoopz on Oct 13, 2009 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions