Over the past week, we have seen several missed home run calls by umpires, most notably the one by Carlos Delgado against the Yankees this weekend and the one last night by Alex Rodriguez for the Yankees. In a Buster Olney blog, Olney declares that the time is now for instant replay. Rick Sutcliffe also stated that it is time for instant replay. But is it? How many people remember that Brian Jordan hit a similar shot a couple years ago for the Braves in a game against the Nationals? Didn't think so. His home run would have tied the game in a game in which the Braves lost, but no one remembers it today. Honestly, I want the umpires to get it right 100% of the time because I don't like to see people getting cheated. Yet, does it really matter that much? Even if A-Rod ends up one home run shy of Barry Bonds for the Major League home run record, we will still endlessly debate who is the better home run hitter, and there will be no clear answer. In five years, wait make that one year, wait make that six months, we won't care whether or not Delgado got jipped because all 162 games will be played and things will have evened themselves out. It is almost mathematically impossible for one team to be screwed 100% of the time. Part of the fun of baseball is not knowing how the umpire will make the call. Usually, things even themselves out by the end.
However, let's imagine starting instant replay just for home runs. In the first instance, the replay machine is a hit as the umpire makes the correct call and in less than 20 seconds. The instant replay in baseball would be much easier than in basketball and football because you don't have to worry about time, position, and where were his feet. The only questions are fair or foul, over or not. Simple really. But let's think a bit further. Where does it end? The next time a manager is going to want to know whether a ball hit down the line was fair or foul, whether or not his player beat the throw to first, or whether or not Matt Holliday really touched home plate. It won't end, and then, the Questec machines will take over calling balls and strikes. No human umpires will be necessary. Pretty soon, machines will be the ones playing baseball. Okay, so I'm getting a little exaggerated, but you get my point. Once you start, it may not stop.
It wouldn't be the same as the NFL. First, the NFL takes forever to make the right call. The rule states that it should take no more than 90 seconds, but how many times do we wait for five minutes? Second, NFL players are constantly moving in all directions and shielding referees. That doesn't happen in the MLB, so the umpires usually have better views on everything. The movement is predictable and usually all in one area. Third, how many times do calls not get reversed because the replays are shielded or ineffective? If the "slippery slope" occurs, then will all cameras see the necessary spot for the replay? There is more predictability, but there are still "too close to call" plays even with instant replay.
Instant replay is nice because it gives us the unbiased truth every time. It never fails. Yet, the camera man might and not get the best or right shot. All this would start because of something that no one would care about ten years down the road. Ask yourself, "How did people get along 50 years ago? They had to depend on the umpires to actually make the right call." Again, I want all the calls to be right just as much as anyone, but during a game, I find myself equally angry and relieved when an umpire makes the incorrect call. Ask yourself if the media would have made the same comments and cared as much if Jeff Fiorentino hit a home run and it was called back in a game between the A's and Royals. It happens. People make mistakes. And then again, if we had instant replay making the calls, then we couldn't blame the umpires for our team's crappy performance.
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