Instant Replay; Coming To an A's Game Near You?

by Zonis on Aug 17, 2008 9:16 AM PDT

It appears that Baseball might be very close to introducing Instant Replay into the game, at least for disputed home run calls. Some might remember that a month or more back, there was a week or so that had what seemed like an obscene amount of botched homerun calls. This promoted a discussion on Baseball Tonight, which knowing MLB, might have been the trigger for this test.And it seems that the A's will be part of the process.

By the time the A's return from their next road trip, the Coliseum will be wired for instant replay.
The plan is to place a video monitor toward the back of the runway that leads to the visitors' dugout, requiring cable installation behind the backstop, and David Rinetti, the vice president of stadium operations, said that the replay station should be ready when requested Aug. 28.

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I have a feeling I'll be in the minority on this, but I'm against it.

1) If the NFL is any indicator, instant replay is still quite often inconclusive. Sometimes it’s obvious a wrong call was made, often it’s not, and we’re left with a human judgment anyway.

2) Judging by television instant replay in baseball, more often than not what we fans think is a botched call ends up being correct. For all their faults, umpires are actually pretty damn good at what they do.

3) I’d rather that MLB mandate that HRs be more clearly defined, i.e. none of this zig-zag painted yellow line crap on a wall like that have in Houston. The ball is either in or it’s out.

I see it as a Don Quiote-like quest for perfection that isn’t obtainable, and merely feeds the desires of people who falsely believe it is obtainable. Plus, as I mentioned before about the umpires being pretty damn good, I question whether there would even be enough of an an increase in accuracy to make it worth the hassle.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Aug 17, 2008 10:14 AM PDT reply actions

I agree with you that routine calls shouldn't be appealable

But a home run call is something where perfection should always be attainable, and it’s always important. I can’t see the problem with having the option (especially if Geren’s estimate that he’d want it twice this year is accurate).

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Aug 17, 2008 3:34 PM PDT up reply actions

Relatively speaking...

…I concede that home runs and fould balls would be pretty straight forward. Be that as it may, I still think there are other less technical solutions that would help greatly.

Part of my fear is that this will be just the beginning. Yes, I’m somewhat of a slippery slope theorist, but I’m sorry, I don’t see them being satisfied with just this, and I’d bet that within 3-5 years there will be a whole bunch of other stuff included.

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Aug 17, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Honestly

I wouldn’t mind even if that is the case (and this is probably why we differ on this step). In Baseball (unlike football) most things are clear. Catches are easier to figure out because there’s a glove that either gets under the ball or doesn’t. Bang-Bang plays at 1B would always be solvable in a frame-by-frame analysis.

I don’t want baseball to be bogged down with constant replays (and I completely agree that our umps are dramatically better than other sports’ officials) but until you can appeal ball/strike calls I’m having a hard time imagining too many grey area issues. Seems to me getting an important call right is the most important thing.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Aug 17, 2008 7:53 PM PDT up reply actions

I go the other way

I think that in the case of home runs, as well as trapped vs. caught balls, instant replay is an excellent idea.

I also think that having instant replay in place could allow umpires, at their own discretion, to call up to the booth for an answer when they’re out of position and nobody really saw what happened (this happens with some frequency at home plate, when the correct answer is pure guesswork).

by richwol1 on Aug 17, 2008 12:58 PM PDT reply actions

As I think people know, I'm against instant replay

of all kinds in all cases. However, if it has to infiltrate baseball, I’d just as soon it were instituted for “possible HRs and nothing else” as for anything.

Question: Why add instant replay before getting rid of the whole “yellow line” B.S.? It’s out or it’s not – give me a break.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 17, 2008 1:02 PM PDT reply actions

I just hope they don't do something stupid like having it on a 12" TV or something

Put it on a 50" HD Plasma TV!

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Aug 17, 2008 3:21 PM PDT reply actions

With Ray's HD! LOL

"If I've got baggage, he's got a whole set of Louis Vuitton." ~ Milton Bradley on Barry Bonds

by UncleLeo on Aug 17, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Little speaker on the bottom of the tv

with Ray’s voice yelling “IN HD! IN HD!” constantly.

It should help speed up the review calls.

facepalm.jpg

by Zonis on Aug 17, 2008 3:37 PM PDT up reply actions

+10

Or just do what well-managed sports (like rugby) do and have a booth official with all the tv he needs making the call. In rugby, the official makes a sign indicating he needs help and the proper call is determined behind the scenes and given to him.

The NFL’s tiny-screen-on-field thing makes no sense.

"There's never enough time to do all the nothing you want" -Bill Watterson

by nevermoor on Aug 17, 2008 3:36 PM PDT up reply actions

Or have a robot holding up a picture of a TV

that has, on the screen, a shot of a robot holding a video camera. That should help a lot.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 17, 2008 3:52 PM PDT up reply actions

That was my hope for this

Hopefully this will push all stadiums to have a full load of HD Cameras installed for all games so that all games will have an HD feed for both Home & Visiting TV crews to use. No more excuse of having to lug around the expensive equipment.

In search of a new signature. Say something funny and you may see your comment here!

by DMOAS on Aug 17, 2008 4:27 PM PDT up reply actions

When posting content from another site, please

please don’t post so much of it. Just a taste of the article is fine. A sentence or two.

by Tyler Bleszinski on Aug 17, 2008 8:22 PM PDT reply actions

Let me offer an example, using Blez' post:

“When site taste or two.”

I’m known for being very helpful.

I like Cindi. A. She never pretends to know more than she does. B. She has unbridled enthusiasm for her "Hotties," and isn't afraid to show it. -IM4Oakgal

by Nico on Aug 17, 2008 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions