MLB is Making the Instant Replay Decision Far More Complicated Than it Should Be
By Jason McIntyre
"Yet, commissioner Bud Selig remains wary of slowing down games, and opponents of replay fear a “robotization” of the sport that eventually would extend to ball-strike calls."
The sport needs instant replay.
"The complexities stem not just from the necessary investment in technology, which would be sizable no matter which system baseball introduced. Agreements must be forged with both the players’ and umpires’ unions. Pace-of-game concerns must be addressed. And new rules must be adopted to address the fallout from changed calls."
The sport needs instant replay.
"Can baseball institute new rules and technology without dramatically altering the pace of games?"
Yes, the NBA and NFL have done so. Baseball can, too. The sport needs instant replay.
"Say a call on a tag at home plate is changed from safe to out. Say the catcher had fired to second after the play at the plate and thrown out a runner trying to advance to second. If the runner at the plate is out, is the runner at second still out? How does that work exactly?"
Of course he’s out. The sport needs instant replay.
"How far does the sport want to go?"
Nobody asking for balls and strikes. They just want the right calls. The sport needs instant replay. [Fox Sports]