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MLB wants home run replay by Aug. 1
by FOXSports.com
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Moving faster than expected and coming after a rash of blown calls, baseball wants to put replay into effect by August for home run disputes in hopes of fine-tuning the system by the playoffs rather than waiting to launch it during the Arizona Fall League and then the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
"The game needs it and I think it does need it soon," Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lieber said Friday before a game at Toronto. "With technology the way it is today, there's no reason why it shouldn't be a part of the game."
Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB's executive vice president for baseball operations, is pushing for replay by Aug. 1; Rob Manfred, MLB's executive vice president of labor relations, suggested Aug. 15.
However, MLB still faces obstacles if it intends to introduce replay by Aug. 1. Both the players' and umpires' union must give their approvals, and John Hirschbeck, head of the World Umpires Association, expressed reservations Saturday morning in a telephone interview with FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal.
"I don't see how something could be implemented in that quick a time and be done right," Hirschbeck said. "It's a problem and I don't think they're really addressing the whole problem. The media is crying for instant replay. They want to take out the human factor. If you're going to do it, I think we need to make sure it's being done properly."
Hirschbeck's concerns are shared by commissioner Bud Selig, according to one Major League Baseball source, who estimated that the chances of replay happening this season are only "50-50."
MLB would not want to roll out replay in September, the source said, making Aug. 15 the likely deadline for implementation.
"I don't think it's needed at all, to be honest," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Friday. "How many times do you see players make errors? Baseball has talked about speeding up the game. It's all you hear. All of a sudden, they want instant replay? You're going to have slower games and more restless people in the stands."
Selig will ultimately decide when MLB wants to put replay in place. A staunch opponent in the past, a spate of missed boundary calls — fair or foul, over the fence or not — last month left Selig leaning toward its limited use.
The NFL, NBA, NHL, some NCAA sports and major tennis tournaments all employ replay in various forms.
A person briefed on MLB's preliminary plan said baseball wants to create an NHL-style "war room" in New York where video feeds would be reviewed by a supervisor. The umpire crew chief wouldn't see replays — instead, the supervisor would describe what he saw, but leave it up to the umpire to make the final call.
It was not certain whether managers, umpires or the video supervisor would ask for a replay, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because negotiations were in progress.
"I think the umpires do a good job on it. If they would like some additional help, I would find nothing wrong with it," Baltimore hitting coach Terry Crowley said Friday night before the Orioles played Pittsburgh. "Every once in a while they get one wrong, but I would bet they get 99 out of 100 right, probably more."
Last November, general managers voted 25-5 to try replay on boundary calls. At the time, Selig took the recommendation under advisement.
Selig, like many of the game's traditionalists, always liked the human element of baseball, and that meant tolerating an occasional wrong call by an umpire. He also worried about further bogging down a sport that has been criticized for its slow pace.
In recent years, the new and cozy ballparks have made it more difficult for umpires with their quirky dimensions, odd angles and yellow lines that denote home runs.
"We're putting these umps in a very difficult position making a call that is already challenging just because of the dynamic of the play," Colorado manager Clint Hurdle said before the Rockies played at the Chicago White Sox. "We live in a technological society right now that we can get it right. The guy at home sees it right. That for me is where it really gets confusing. You can sit in your chair at home and make the right call, but the man getting paid who's the expert is put in a box where you don't know."
Includes reporting by The Associated Press.
Member Comments
as far as the delay of game, <br />i've seen on numerous occasions where a homerun was taken away and the player, coach, bench, and bat boy complain for ten minutes. <br />baseball will be better with replay. umpires deserve to get every call right.
nesnaj786/17/2008 9:56:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
thejerk1126,<br /><br />im pretty sure that the home run has helped to revive the sport of baseball in the past decade. getting them right is crucial. if baseball has the ability to get every homerun call right, then why not? <br /><br />im sure you have never had your team get a home run taken away, especially in tense games when it makes a difference. <br /><br />"if it aint broke, dont fix it"<br />in this case, "its broken, fix it."
nesnaj786/17/2008 9:50:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
rmbuster-<br />you're right that umps can't see over the catcher, but that doesn't matter. Where the catcher catches the ball is irrelevant. The ump CAN see where the ball crosses he plate, which is all that determines a ball vs. a strike.<br /><br />I have no problem with instant replay on a contested homerun, most games don't even HAVE a contested homerun...I don't think Bud would allow it to become a "slippery slope" where we have machines determining balls and strikes while he's commish, but I'm worried about 20 years from now. I want my grandkids to enjoy the same game I do, and tradition is what sets baseball apart from other American sports.
wnma876/17/2008 7:19:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
replay has ruined football and it is about to do the same for baseball.
thebigPerky6/17/2008 6:41:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
To hell with the media.Why would you want to change the game of Baseball which is all about human error???<br />If this happens then I think they need to go back to every televised game ever and correct the calls that were blown in the past for home run balls.You are going to take a 3-4 hour game already and make it longer??? I agree with who ever said it-put another umpire out in the outfield.
LionsRgr8n086/16/2008 14:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
rmbuster12<br />Managers coming out of the dugout is part of the game! its been in the game forever and it should stay that way.
Slimmy6/16/2008 10:53:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.Stupid idea!! Why is it when homeruns are invoved everyone gets crazy!! You can't have replay in baseball.Add more umps or get better ones.Again NO NO NO NO!!!
thejerk11266/16/2008 8:09:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
to bostunsox<br /><br />I talk to people daily about this and you are the first person that agrees with me..There is NO WAY they can see over the catcher to call balls & strikes...if people cannot see this then they are either blind or don't give a darn..thanks for the post..thought I was the only one..It is guesswork at homeplate PERIOD.
rmbuster126/16/2008 8:01:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
It would speed up the games..these umps think they are gods and when the managers come out of the dugout to argue these godawful calls they make it slows the game down more..An "instant" replay would speed it up...It is getting so every game has a questionable homer in it..Let's face it, I never thought I would see it in tennis and it works wonderfully and the players love.
rmbuster126/16/2008 7:50:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
No insatant replay in baseball.....Period.
coronetgs6/15/2008 18:02:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Replay is bad for any Game!join our chatting sports with black, white, latin beauties @ @ @ @ M y I n t e r r a c i a L M a t c h . c 0 M where all man can find real cute women online with photos,... who enjoying chatting sports and stars..
latteriwiillonyou6/14/2008 22:27:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
sublime024--<br />First off, what I meant by umpires will get a call right 9 out of 10 tens was a single call. For example the ball hit by A-rod that was not clled a HR but was an HR an umpire would get that call right 9 out of ten times, that happened to be that one time. Im not saying that he is blowing 1 call every 10 times during a game. 2nd, you are NOT a baseball fan. scince when is there 400 or 500 calls during a game? even if you add balls and strikes to an umpires calls its not even 500. 3rd screw the human element, thats the players and their mistakes.....DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BASEBALL??? the human element is PART of the game and its just not the players mistakes. It makes the game what it is you idiot. EVERY umpire has a different strike zone and that means pitchers as well as batters have to adjust. thats just one example. also, whats next? pitchers will stop throwing the 4 pitches when they intentional walk a player...thats pathedic and its not the game of baseball. Go watch football or basketball or whatever the hell you watch because baseball is about TRADITION AND HISTORY. ****, managers and coaches still wear uniforms because back in the day managers and coaches were players too. the game is based on history and tradition and the "human element" is part of that. YOU HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT BASEBALL! 500 calls...LOL.
Slimmy6/14/2008 14:07:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Right on, stirdogs. They've been playing this game a long time without "instant replay" (now there's an oxymoron for ya; we all know it's anything but instant).<br /><br />This is one of the few things with which I'm in accord with commish Bud. Baseball's umpiring crews do a helluva job. Frankly, there are a few weird ground rules out there that need to be addressed before the seeming panacea of instant replay gets implemented.
MichiganMan236/14/2008 11:51:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
I think they should review every close call in baseball. I would love to watch a 10 hour game or sit at the park for half the day.
madball19776/14/2008 10:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Not really, I have attended and watched many more MLB games versus NBA but it is nice to know FOR SURE when a last second shot has been released before or after time has expired determines the correct winning team!
maich6/14/2008 9:31:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Maybe if they bring instatnt replay into baseball it would make the umpires call better games. People want to say what should the managers be penalized, I say what should the umps be penalized by really blowing an obvious call.<br /><br />I say bring the old rules back, the ones the kids still follow. No more of be in the area for a double play ball. If the second baseman or shortstop aren't touching second when they get the ball the runner should be called safe. Strike zone, what a joke. WHy can't the professionals have the strike zone from the letters (chest) to the knees. The pro strike zone seams to be from the stomach to just above the knees. Its easier to strike out in little league than it is at the professional level. Seams backwards to me.
stir_the_pot6/14/2008 7:49:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Replay is a bore??? The NFL still can't get it right?? The announcers see it one way and the Refs. see it another?? Let's play with no delay.....
stirdogs6/14/2008 7:43:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
How did BB survive 100 years without it.....by players, coaches and fans living with wrong calls, wrong winners and wrong champions.....this small and simple part of baseball now can and should be fixed!
maich6/14/2008 7:35:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Lets face it. The Mgr can't see the play as well as the umpires. If you have to ask for a replay like in football an loose a timeout if your wrong ,what ar you going to loose in baseball one out two outs or the half of an inning?
dogfish34406/14/2008 7:00:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
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