In my first two blog entries on the subject of MLB's expanded use of instant replay (IR) beginning this season, I argued
that while IR might be the greater good, it comes at the expense of some of baseball's unwritten rules and traditions. Hardcore baseball fans can debate this all day long like they might the Pete Rose
hall of fame issue; traditionalists don’t
want to tinker with the game while techno-geeks won’t be happy until balls and
strikes are called by nuclear powered hover-bots. As the debate rolls on, lets look at the specifics of how IR will be implemented as it has some interesting components...
- Monitor - Each team will have an employee monitoring video in the clubhouse who will communicate with the dugout via phone. No additional technology is allowed, e.g. monitors in the dugout. All stadiums are to have similar video camera setups and it is assumed that video from both teams' feeds are available. How can I get this job?
- Challenge - Once tipped off by the team official, the manager starts out with one challenge per game, but maybe a second one too. If the call from his first challenge is reversed in his favor, he is awarded a second challenge for a maximum of two. You could say this adds a strategy element to the manager’s job, but I don’t see any manager passing up an opportunity on the very first close call given the next IR standard operating procedure…
- Safety Net - From the 7th inning on, the crew chief has the authority to request a review. This is the safety net for any questionable call late in the game after the managers are out of challenges, ala the two-minute rule in the NFL. This is interesting because managers will still argue calls but since that rarely works, will quickly press the ump to go to the replay. If the umpires take the traditional stance that their judgment is final, what will it take for the crew chief to fire up the replay? This is a weird dynamic - we'll have to see how it plays out.
- Exceptions - Most plays other than balls/strikes can be reviewed, but not all. The highest profile exception is the double-play turn at second base with regards to the base touch, the "neighborhood play," the time-honored tradition of giving the benefit of the doubt to the middle infielder if he is slightly off the base while trying to avoid a takeout slide. Other exceptions are obstruction, interference, Infield Fly Rule calls and check swings. If you’ve read my book, “The Rules Abide: The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball Rules (with History, Humor and a Few Big Words)” you know that the rule book does not define a swing and defers to umpire judgement, (“did he strike at the ball?”) to determine check swings. Judgment is invisible on video!
- Bunker Umps - The final decision will be made by umpires at work within MLB’s NY HQ. The field umps have no say in the review. This represents a giant change in the dynamic from the umpires getting together to overrule one of their peers right there on the field. Ok, this is really the job I want - umpiring from a desk using super slo-motion video replay. Where do I sign up?!
- Transparency - While this is going on, stadiums will be allowed to show the replay on their big video boards. While you can argue something is lost with IR, this adds an element of anticipation and excitement similar to what you see in NFL games.
Personally, I think MLB got this right by limiting the delays by the managers, but empowering the umpire crew late in the game. One result of IR I'm predicting is that by placing the umpires under technological scrutiny, magnifying their errors, we'll learn ironically just how good these guys are - they're right the vast majority of the time. That said, when the IR system was tested in the Arizona fall league last year, during a week’s worth of games, out of 15 challenges, 3 were indeed overturned. It should be fun to watch this play out!
Jim Tosches is an amateur umpire and blogger in Encinitas, Ca and author of the book, "The Rules Abide: The Thinking Fan's Guide to Baseball Rules (With History, Humor and a Few Big Words)"
I think 2 appeals per game per team is way too much for regular season games. I think we should limit it to maybe 10 per SEASON with successful appeals not counting towards total used. That way, managers will use more discretion and will only appeal calls that are blatantly wrong and/or calls that affect the outcome of a game.
ReplyDeleteBut sure, go back to 2 per game in the post season where bad calls are magnified x1000.
I appreciate the delay argument but keeping track of seasonal reviews doesn't seem the way to go to me. I think the problem lies in the overhead of implementing the system. If they go thru the cost and trouble, they have to use it. Otherwise I like just allowing the umps to go to it the last 3 innings.
DeleteAs a traditionalist, I cry "foul"!
ReplyDeleteOne of the abiding reasons I love baseball more than any other sport on Earth is that IT IS NOT LIKE EVERY OTHER SPORT. It mostly certainly is--purposefully is--steeped in its own traditions.
Why not add a pitch clock (you know, like basketball's shot clock or football's play clock) so that the batter & pitcher don't bore us to tears with their game-within-the-game? Because that's NOT how baseball is played!
Seriously, in an age of instagrams and other face-buried-in-technology kinds of communication, our culture has lost a sense of continuity. They want insta-gratification, insta-fact-checks, and insta-replays. Baseball doesn't need that. Period. The umpires don't need that. True fans don't need that. Insta-fans scream for it because their new gadget says the game is too old-fashioned.
But that is exactly what is RIGHT about baseball. Pinstripes. Knickers. Hickory. Dropped third strikes and balks. Their all something like 180 years old, and we love 'em. Nobody but the disconnected generation wants uniforms like the Marlins, sagging pants wrapped under the cleats, composite bats, or anything else that smacks of the Age of Instant Gratification. Especially instant replays.
Or to sum it up in two words: Armando Galarraga.
That ENTIRE event sums up why we DON'T need IR. They were men that day, both the offender and the offended. They both did baseball proud. And the IR will change that. It most definitely will.
Wow, now there's a passionate response. Awesome! I dare anyone to argue with drewnchick!
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