May 27, 2008

The Call for Instant Replay

How many times have we as fans watched baseball games in which an umpire has obviously missed a call?  Personally, I’ve run out of fingers and toes to tally up. 

All of us have been subjected to making some sort of error in the course of our lifetime – sometimes we own up to those mistakes, sometimes we just let it go.  For the most part, our errors don’t affect the outcome that it would in a professional game.

Umpires are only humans and they too make mistakes… but when you look at the other sports, such as the NHL, NFL, NBA, major tennis tournaments and even the NCAA – they all use a form of replay.

In hockey, the referees don’t always skate over to the scorer’s box and call upstairs every time there’s a penalty called to see if they made the right call.  In the instances when there’s a questionable goal the refs will go to a video replay.

So, the question I ask, “Why is baseball not willing to use a form of replay.”

They’re not willing to implement instant replay at this time mainly because Commissioner Bud Selig has never favored replay, and because it’ll slow down the game even more.

Last November, the GMs voted 25-5 to try instant replay on boundary calls whether possible homers are fair or foul, if balls actually clear fences, whether there’s fan interference.

I guess that Commissioner Selig thinks he’s God, and what he says is the final word.

“I voted for it at every general manager’s meeting since it first came up,” White Sox GM Kenny Williams said.

“The commissioner is not a fan of it,” baseball executive Bob Watson said in Houston.  “He calls instant replay umpires getting together and trying to get the call right.  That is instant replay in his estimation.”

Forget the balls and strikes… why not just review the important or questionable calls – especially when an umpire has the need to confer with another member to determine the outcome of the call.

Case in point came last Sunday night during the Yankees-Mets game, then Monday night in Houston and again Wednesday night in New York at Yankee Stadium. 

Carlos Delgado of the Mets hit a home run that was ruled fair by third base umpire Mike Reilly before home plate and crew chief umpire Bob Davidson overruled him and called it foul.

Television replays clearly showed the ball striking the foul pole and landing in the foul section of the stands.  Any ball that strikes the foul pole is a fair ball – despite where the ball lands in the stands… thus the initial call of a home run should have stuck.

Ironically, after the game and watching the replay, home plate umpire Bob Davidson said he “messed up.”  “I’m the one who thought it was a foul ball.  No one feels worse about it than I do.  I thought it looked like it hit the fan left of the foul line.  I could have sworn it hit that fan or something to the left of the line, but looking at the replay, that wasn’t the case.”

In last Monday’s game, the Cubs Giovanni Soto smacked a hit off that left field area (a ball hitting above and to the right of an L-shaped yellow line on the left-center-field), and made it all the way the bases for an inside-the-park home run.

This scenario happened because the umpires couldn’t tell where the ball hit the wall, so they ruled it in play.

Umpire Joe West said he lost sight of the ball, which is why the ball was ruled in play after it hit above the yellow line.

On Tuesday, the Astros removed a wooden board that the vertical yellow line was painted on, and simply painted a vertical yellow line on the wall.

Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium, a ball hit by Alex Rodriguez struck a stairway beyond the outfield fence and bounced back into the outfield was ruled a double when it should have been a home run.

Earlier this week, Chipper Jones spoke up saying “he’s seen enough.”  Now he wants baseball to take a closer look at instant replay.  During an interview with the Atlanta Star, Jones said, “Anything to get the calls right.”

Astros manager Cecil Cooper supports the use of instant replay.

Cooper pointed to one major instance when a replay video would have clarified a call that would have fairly ruled in the Astros’ favor.  During a game against the Rockies last month, Ryan Spilborghs dropped a fly ball hit by Geoff Blum, but after a diving attempt, he held up the ball to show he caught it.

Blum was called out, but replays showed Spilborghs didn’t have control of the ball.

Hall of Fame and Dodgers announcer Vin Scully could see using it on a limited basis.

Rays senior advisor Don Zimmer during a radio interview is in favor of instant replay… “Certain plays – so that they (umps) get it right.”

“We’d be all in favor of listening to whatever proposals they might have,” veteran ump John Hirschbeck, president of the umpires’ union, told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

Fast forward to Thursday and all of a sudden MLB is making provisional plans to experiment with instant replay in the Arizona Fall League this fall, according to a baseball official with knowledge of those discussions.

According to this baseball official, if the experiment proves practical and successful, MLB then is likely to continue the experiment next March during the World Baseball Classic and spring training games.

What is yet to be determined is whether calls would be reviewed by a “replay umpire” in each stadium, as the National Football League does, or in the MLB offices in New York, a system that would more resemble the National Hockey League’s.

Besides the fact the Commissioner doesn’t care for replays, he sure as heck cares about the length of games – which in his opinion is more important than the umpires getting the calls correct.

Let’s face it, baseball games take too long as it is… but, there are rules that have been in place for a few years now that just haven’t been followed to the “T” by the umpires that are supposed to help speed the game up.

Therefore, saying that instant replay is going to slow up the game even more is ridiculous - it can’t slow it up any more than it already is.

Staying on the topic of the speed (non-speed) of the game leads me to this.

Did you know that after several years in which game times decreased, this season the game times have increased?

Last season the average game lasted 2 hours 51 minutes.  This season they’re up a minute longer (on the average).

Last week at the owner’s meetings in Milwaukee, the owners spoke of this problem and wanted action immediately on the subject. 

In response, this past Wednesday the commissioner’s office held conference calls with managers, general managers, in-game entertainment staffs and umpiring crew chiefs to remind them of several rules that have been implemented to quicken games.

• The rules include not granting time to a batter who asks for it once the pitcher has begun his delivery.
   

•  Warning a pitcher for his first violation of the 12-second time limit and issuing a pitcher a ball for each subsequent violation.
   

•  Umpires are expected break up conferences on the mound more quickly, especially if the visitor is not prompt to the mound.
   

•  Umpires should urge batters to approach home plate from the on-deck circle and enter the batter’s box faster, and to enforce rules such as issuing an automatic strike to batters who linger outside the box.

Say it ain’t so Willie

Willie Randolph stands with his arms folded across his chest these days.  He can’t sit down because of the rapid fire burning.  Willie Randolph is on the hottest of hot seats.

First having to deal with his team’s demise last September then having to deal with his teams’ lackluster performance this season and now having to deal with his own indiscretions has made Randolph a marked man.

Randolph specifically has come under fire in recent days following an inflammatory interview with the Bergen Record, which reported that the Randolph criticized Mets fans and the New York media.

Randolph criticized Mets television network SNY for its portrayal of his behavior. He also hinted at a racial double standard regarding coaches, managers and team executives - specifically in New York.

Randolph apologized to the Wilpons, the team owners for his controversial comments, but according to Friday’s Daily News, the Wilpons did not respond to Randolph.  Instead, GM Omar Minaya returned a call on behalf of the owners.  Minaya also relayed to Randolph that the Wilpons want to meet with him (Randolph) when the team returns from Denver Sunday night.

There were reports over the weekend that the series in Denver was going to be a “make or break” one for Randolph.   That a strong showing – basically sweeping the Rockies could save Randolph for the time being…

Well, the weekend series wasn’t that good; Randolph met with Omar Minaya and ownership on Monday before the game against Florida, and guess what?  Randolph is still the Mets manager – at least for the time being.

The crazy thing is that most of the National media all had Randolph being on their “hot seat” list well before the season even started…   

Randolph though isn’t alone.  As we celebrate Memorial Day, there are four or more managers that are in danger of losing their jobs – for some, the pink slip could come within days, while for others in a matter of weeks or months.

Here’s my “Hot Seat” list:

Most Likely To Get the Pink Slip

John Gibbons – Toronto Blue Jays:  For the past few off-season’s, GM J.P. Ricciardi has gone out and spent plenty of money to improve the Jays.  They have a great pitching staff, led by Roy “Complete Game” Halladay, they have a very good closer in B.J. Ryan and they have very good offensive players… unfortunately, the pitching staff can only do so much if the offense doesn’t do their job – which is the Jays story so far.  Alex Rios (20-RBIs), Vernon Wells (24-RBIs), Scott Rolen (2-HRs, 11-RBIs) and Matt Stairs (6-HRs) haven’t been consistent, David Eckstein has been a lead-off bust and injured… 

The Jays were waiting for a year like this – with the Yankees down to make a move… but it hasn’t happened and Gibbons, who is in the final year of his contract is not going to make it past the All-Star game.

John McLaren – Seattle Mariners: Two weeks ago he got that dreaded “vote of confidence” from team president Chuck Armstrong.  This past week he got another one from his GM, Bill Bavasi. 

McLaren doesn’t impress me – never has, even when he was a coach with the Rays.  Too laid back type of guy, though very well liked by the players. 

With a payroll of $118 million, standing 18-33 after dropping six straight games by a combined score of 61-27, it’ll be easier to change managers than trade some of their players.

Pressure and Expectations - Generally Equals Unemployment

Bruce Bochy – San Francisco Giants: Bill Neukom (pronounced, “Nuke ‘em”), Microsoft’s former top attorney, has been named to succeed Peter Magowan as the managing general partner of the Giants franchise.  Despite the fact that Magowan said he’s staying put till the end of the year, things could change sooner than later.

With the way things are going for the Giants, sooner would be better than later.  Bochy was a fool for leaving the Padres.

Ned Yost – Milwaukee Brewers:  The pitching problems (Eric Gagne etc.) aren’t Yost’s fault… the lack of hitting isn’t his fault either.  But, someone has got to be the fall guy and it’s Yost. 

Ron Washington – Texas Rangers:  After a 10-19 mark through the first month of the season, it looked as though Washington was a sure thing to get the axe… but, Texas came on strong in May, going 16-7 through May 26^th to get to the .500 mark, which likely saved his job.

Unlikely To Get a Pink Slip at this Time; But Stranger Things Have Happened

Clint Hurdle – Colorado Rockies: Last year he was the “Miracle Man,” and the talk of the town.  This season, he’s no longer the “Miracle Man.”  You can’t put the Rockies misfortunes of this season in Hurdle’s lap.

With nine players currently on the DL (including the most recent additions of Matt Holliday, Clint Barmes and Brad Hawpe – all out till mid-June) it’s still amazing they’re in 3^rd place in the NL West… just goes to show you how bad the Giants and Padres really are.

Bud Black – San Diego Padres:  You have Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, Chris Young, future HOF’s Greg Maddux and Trevor Hoffman, a solid bullpen and you’re staff ERA is ranked eighth in the NL?  Combine that with the worst offense in the league and you have problems.  The pitching has been the biggest issue because the offense was the second worst in the NL last year and the team still won 89 games.  But nonetheless, you’d think adjustments would be made in your team’s approach to find ways to score runs.  Bud Black has yet to do that, and he’s paying for it.

Time to shake things up and get someone that can put some fire into this team.

Willie Randolph – New York Mets:  His remarks were one thing, but the play of the Mets is what will get him fired at the end of the season.

Randolph has a bunch of highly paid underachievers with a locker room seemly filled with a group of primadonnas.  Randolph’s approach has always been low-keyed – ala Joe Torre, which is what ownership wanted after years of fiery managers. 

It’s clear to me that the Mets play better with rah, rah guy leading them…

Crazy – But True

Here we are, one quarter into the 2008 baseball season and we have the Tampa Bay Rays making history in more than one way.  First and foremost, the Rays lead the AL East by a ½-game over the Red Sox with a 31-20 record.  Never in their franchise history (11-years) have they ever been in A) First place this late in the season, B) The Rays are only the second team to have the best record in the majors on Memorial Day after having the worst record in the majors the year before, C) Rays have been over .500 31 consecutive days and 36 total on the season, both club records and D) Tampa Bay has been in first place or tied for first 14 days this season, 2 days shy of their combined total for their first 10 seasons…

It’s amazing, but both Florida teams, the Rays and Marlins, are having unbelievable seasons despite low payrolls and both are sitting in first place.

The Rays have swept the Yankees, Red Sox and Orioles (21-12 in their own division), and after the sweep of the Yankees, Junior Steinbrenner said that the Yankees “have got to start playing the way the Rays are playing.”

Tampa Bay is doing it with pitching, defense, timely hitting and a little of this and a little of that… Tampa Bay is only 12^th in the majors in runs scored. Yet, they are tops in the AL in steals and eighth overall in team ERA (fifth in ERA in the AL). Florida is doing it with their potent offense… ranked sixth in runs and 2^nd in home runs, and getting decent pitching... Florida ranks 6^th in team ERA in the NL and has only ten saves.

If, and I say “IF” the season ended today, here’s how the Division Series matchups would be:

Red Sox vs. White Sox

A’s vs. Rays

Marlins vs. Cardinals

Cubs vs. Diamondbacks

The White Sox are in first place, and the Tigers – everyone’s favorite sit comfortably tied with Kansas City for last place in the AL Central.  This is not how it was supposed to be.

Thanks to a 12-2 run – that included eight straight wins and a sweep of the Indians, the White Sox and Ozzie are happy, happy, happy!

Last season the big story was the resurrection of Josh Hamilton.  Taken by the Cubs in the Rule V Draft, and then traded to Cincinnati, Hamilton produced in just 90-games. 

The Reds traded Hamilton to Texas during the off-season (for pitching no less) and to everyone’s surprise, Hamilton is having a career year.

He leads the majors in RBIs with 53, is third in batting (.327) in the AL, he’s tied for 2nd in the AL in home runs with 12 and if he can keep this up, he could become the first AL player since 1967 to win the Triple Crown.

At long last, Barry Zito finally won his first game of the year – in his 10^th start.  Would anyone have thought the Zito, Verlander, Sabathia, and Harang have combined for 27 losses and just 10 wins?

New, Notes and Ramblings…

Major League Baseball today marked the official beginning of All-Star Balloting for the 79^th All-Star Game, which will be held on Tuesday, July 15^th, with a special on-field ceremony prior to the Detroit Tigers-New York Yankees game at Yankee Stadium, the host of the 2008 Midsummer Classic.

Starting today, fans can cast their votes for starters up to 25 times with the Monster 2008 All-Star Game Online Ballot at MLB.com and all 30 Club Web sites until Wednesday, July 2^nd at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).

The 2008 American League and National League All-Star Teams will be unveiled on Sunday, July 6th on the 2008 MLB All-Star Game Selection Show Presented by Chevrolet, televised nationally on TBS following the Sunday MLB on TBS Game of the Week. The American League All-Star Team will have nine starters elected via the fan balloting program, while the National League All-Star Team will have eight fan-elected starters. The pitchers and reserves for both squads - 23 for the N.L., 22 for the A.L. - will be determined through a combination of “Player Ballot” choices and selections made by the two All-Star managers - American League skipper Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox and National League manager Clint Hurdle of the Colorado Rockies - in conjunction with Major League Baseball.

If you like this column, Althea also writes the NHL Insider, the Rays Corner and Lightning Nutz and Boltz all while serving as VP of Sports for NutzMedia.  Listen to Althea on TBSNRadio510.com Saturday's, live from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm as Althea Co-hosts "Speaking of Sports" with Ted Fleming.