Instant replay debate is back on
Monday, May 26, 2008 | 07:37 PM ET
In the last week it has been discussed whether or not to use instant replay in Major League Baseball. Hey, are we serious? We are talking Major League Baseball here.
Why are we going to reinvent the wheel? Progress, I guess. But I have some questions and concerns about the subject.
Because there were so many controversies in the post-seasons of 2003, 2004 and 2007, the league's general managers have been studying this situation for a while now. So in November, at the general managers’ meeting, what they proposed is that the replays will be used on foul-pole plays and foul or fair balls (because of all of the quirky new parks being built with lower fences, fans can sometimes reach over and interfere with the play).
Three decades ago, with all the cookie cutter stadiums that had higher walls, we didn't have this problem, but we do now and it's a big problem that can be resolved with instant replay.
This is one of the reasons the Cubs put that basket net atop of the outfield wall at Wrigley Field, to keep fans from reaching over. It works, but boy is it ugly when the ivy isn't in full bloom because you can see it.
Where will it stop?
Although Major League Baseball is discussing using instant replay only on home run calls, where will it stop? The home run is not the only play that can decide a ballgame’s outcome.
What about all those plays in the outfield where the umps don't know if the ball was caught or trapped? Just ask Lloyd Moseby in the 1985 playoffs! He made a great shoestring catch in the Old Exhibition Stadium against Kansas City and even with extra umpires for the playoffs, they got the call wrong! Where was instant replay then?
But let's be real here, we are all human and if we take out the human element, will it change the game? Earl Weaver, Baltimore's Orioles manager, back in the day once said to an ump, "Are you going to get any better or is this it?" None of the umpires are perfect, but they do a great job.
Oh yeah, Matt Holliday better be very glad they didn't have it last October in a game against the Padres to go the playoffs, because he still hasn't touched home plate and it's May!
Jays Rolen on
Let me start off by giving some dap (old school for props) to the Jays for the way they are coming together as a team and have stepped it up a notch in every phase of the game. Like the old saying, "You win with pitching and
defence." But let me add, some timely hitting doesn't hurt either!
Shannon Stewart's clutch hitting at the top of the line up has added a needed spark for the Jays. As for Alex Rios, he can beat you even if you shut him down offensively. He can beat you with his speed, his defence, his arm, and he has one of the quickest releases of any outfielder, especially with him being so tall. It was nice to see Rios get the job done Sunday against the Royals.
What an athlete!
Scott Rolen really showed me that the team has made some adjustments by driving in the first run of the game on a 2-1 breaking ball, in a hitters count. Usually you look for a fastball in that count, but he sat back nicely and drove the ball to left-centre. Rod Barajas continues to anchor the bottom of the lineup with his consistent at bats.
Pitching comes alive
A balanced lineup is also what helps a team win. But then to see Dustin McGowan pitch seven strong innings on Sunday, that was awesome! He was dominating, striking out seven with only one walk and giving up just one run. His stuff was simply nasty. Both Roy Halladay and Jesse Listch also came through with complete game victories.
What has really impressed me is that these pitchers have harnessed the movement on all of their pitches.
Their breaking balls have a lot of bite (by that I mean downward movement) and their fastballs have late movement on it. This keeps the batters from hitting the ball on the "sweet spot" or good part of the bat. It is either on their hands or off the end of the bat. So, now you know why they are so dominating.
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Inside Baseball with Jesse Barfield »
About the Author
Jesse Barfield returns to the booth with the Rogers Blue Jays Baseball
on CBC broadcast team for the 2008 season as an analyst, after making
his debut with the program in 2007.
Barfield, a favourite with Canadian baseball fans, was selected by the
Blue Jays in the ninth round of the 1977 amateur draft, debuted with the
club in 1981 and helped the franchise reach the playoffs for the first
time in 1985.
A two-time Gold Glove winner with a cannon for an arm, Barfield led American
League outfielders in assists for three straight seasons (1985
– 87). Barfield was selected to the American League All-Star Team in
1986, a season in which he blasted 40 home runs to lead the majors while
driving in 108 runs. He was traded to the New York Yankees in 1989,
where he completed his playing career.
In 1,428 career games, Barfield was a .256 hitter with 241 home runs and 716 RBIs.
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Comments
Andre
Instant replay is a terrible idea, simply because umpires are umpires, not referees. As human as they may be, umpires are still the be-all and end-all arbiters of what happens on the field, while referee calls are reviewable by judges (goal judge, video judge, etc...). The risk is that soon balls and strikes can be reviewed. Now I don't want to sound like change is bad, I'm glad the deadball era is over and batting helmets were a good move, but booth review? It turns an umpire into just another referee.
Posted June 2, 2008 02:15 PM
Matthew
Whether or not the argument of 1985 is valid; the substance of the argument is there and Jesse is correct. Think of all the questionable calls irregardless of team. Sure, baseball is slow now and needs to be sped up but when the teams back is pinned against the wall and a shot that is questionable comes into play, we need to be getting it right. That just cheats everyone involved. I was cheated once in a tournament and it still eats at me. If only, if only...
Posted May 30, 2008 01:52 AM
Stan Levenson
Why all the excitment the Jays won four games they were playing the worst team in the baseball, Yes some of the hitting is coming back, however I still do not know why the Jays hitting coach is has disappeared. Jays hitting is slump is not over by any means. There is no chemistry on this teram this year. What went wrong?
Posted May 27, 2008 01:13 PM
Heather
Richmond
Baseball needs to be brought into the 21st century. To use the argument about something that happened in 1985 is not valid. Every sport that is now using instant replay has had wrong calls made in years past. Hence, instant replay. It would also save the umpires the embarrassment from having to look up at the big screen and see that they blew it.
Posted May 27, 2008 05:51 AM