Umpiring in Major League baseball has seemed to take a turn for the worst. A few seasons ago (07 or 08), MLB Commissioner Bud Selig set rules for use of instant replay in baseball games for Home Run calls. The first time it was used was on 9/3/08 in Tampa Bay. During the 2009 postseason, the same player hit a camera in fair territory against the Phillies in Game 3. The umpires used replay for the first time in a World Series Game to overturn the call, granting A-Rod a 2-run home run. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQKc62Fct0o
However, earlier in the 2009 postseason, two calls would anger the fans enough to get ESPN debating the use of instant replay. Going in chronological order, the first call was Phil Cuzzi’s foul ball call in Game 2 of the Twins-Yankees ALDS. The ball, hit by Twins’ Mauer, should have been a ground-rule double by a foot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ClQ1H8eJ0w
The next flub in the 2009 Postseason occurred in game 4 of the ALCS. Tim McCelland called 2 players out at third base. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3akWln2Lsg
Here’s where the debate really takes off. It’s the bottom of the 9th in Detroit on 6/2/10. The Indians’ Pitcher Garralaga has pitched 8 and 2/3rd perfect innings. Two outs. The 1-1 Pitch. Grounded to Cabrera. The toss to Garralaga is… NOT in time. Safe at first. And the perfect game is ruined by Jim Joyce. Was it? Replays showed out. Twenty-six consecutive outs by Garralaga and the perfect gameis ruined. It now becomes a complete-game-one-hit-shut-out. Note: Selig can overturn it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA6v_RU4i48
So, what do you think? First, should Bud Selig overturn the hit? He won’t, just so you know.
Then, let’s focus on instant replay: expand its use? drop it all together? Or keep it as is?
Also, many people have identified underlying problems: MLB umpires have a lot of job security, best minor league umpires not called up, and no standard system of training - all have been identified. What can we do to solve that?
Thursday, June 3, 2010
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