Al Yellon
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Jul 18, 2011 - In the eighth inning Sunday at Wrigley Field, the Cubs' Kerry Wood picked the Marlins' Brett Hayes off second base. It's a no-brainer of a call; you can see that and I can see that. Unfortunately, second base umpire Lance Barrett -- who, as you can see below, was right there, perfectly positioned to make the call, did not see that. He called Hayes safe.
Had the correct call been made, the inning would have been over with the game tied 4-4. Instead, the Marlins went on to blow the game open against Wood, scoring three runs. That's obviously not the umpire's fault -- but Wood should never have had to face additional hitters. The Cubs scored a run in the last of the eighth; they might have won the game 5-4.
The result of Sunday's game doesn't really matter; the Cubs are having a miserable season and the Marlins aren't going anywhere, either. However, two weeks ago in Boston, the Red Sox likely got a win they might not otherwise have had, when the Blue Jays' Edwin Encarnacion was ruled out at the plate to end a 3-2 Boston victory. The call looked wrong on replay; the game should probably have been tied and continued. The principal point, however, is that calls like this should be reviewed, so that we get them right and the results of the games accurately reflects what happens on the field, rather than having an umpire's blatant mistake result in runs, or a win or loss, for a team that didn't earn it.
Cubs manager Mike Quade had a recommendation for MLB after yesterday's botched call:
Quade was more upset, saying, "I'm becoming a big fan of replay, even in this game, and I don't give a damn if it slows the game down another hour. Give me a challenge flag or two."
Quade was suggesting a system similar to the NFL's, where coaches have two challenges (except in the last two minutes of each half) they can use to ask for a play to be reviewed. This might work, although managers would have to throw that flag quickly, in order to get a review before the next pitch was thrown.
Here's a better idea: add a fifth umpire to each crew. This umpire would be stationed in the press box with replay monitors, and would be empowered to review plays like the one above, either on a manager's request, or the request of other umpires. You'd have to have a radio system, as they do in the NFL, to notify the crew chief, or perhaps a simpler system: two lights on the press box, green and red. Green means the call on the field is correct, red means it's wrong. I'd subject the following plays to review: home runs (already done), fair/foul, safe/out (like Sunday's) and caught/trapped.
This would eliminate the ridiculous manager/umpire arguments we now see -- and managerial suspensions, too, since managers would know they could request review and get it. It wouldn't slow games down any more than the arguments do, and in many games you wouldn't see this come into play at all. There are very few games that have more than one or two plays that are close enough to have review necessary.
To me, it's really a no-brainer. Get the calls right; keep managers in the game; prevent players from getting suspended from bumping umpires. Umpires, you'd think, would be in favor of this, too, as it would create 15 more full-time umpiring positions. You'd rotate the booth umpire with the rest of the crew.
I don't agree with those who claim the "human element" is important. Tell that to Armando Galarraga. We have the technology available to assist the humans in getting the calls right. All three other major sports have reviews. Baseball has dipped its toe in the water with home-run review; it's way past time to expand it to everything except balls and strikes.
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Comments
I completely agree with you on the need for instant replay in baseball, and think that your plan would be effective for safe/out and homeruns. However, something that has been bothering me quite a bit is what to do with fair/foul and catch/trap. What if an umpire rules a groundball over the third base bag foul that would have been an easy double and has it overturned? Do you award the hitter 2nd base? Or do you simply replay the pitch? Same thing goes for catch/trap. It seems to me that replaying the pitch is unfair in favor of the pitcher, while granting the runner second base is too subjective. Do you have any thoughts on the logistics of this?
by akosh89 on Jul 18, 2011 9:22 PM EDT reply actions
Yes.
In those cases, you would have to codify it in the rule book (i.e. a batter or runner gets x amount of bases), or have what is called an “approved ruling” — check the rule book, there are dozens of these.
The alternative is to make it “umpire’s judgment”, and I doubt anyone wants to go down that road.
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by Al Yellon on Jul 19, 2011 7:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Rox - brewers game also
Chris Ianneta( no idea how to spell that) got thrown out a couple nights ago on a blown call also. Umpire looking right at the play and still missed it. How does this problem get fixed? a new system needs to be introduced into how Umpires are trained. also once they are at MLB, a new system on how their graded. but MLB needs a complete overhaul on how they train umpires. For one, these guys need to get in shape and MOVE on the field. To many umpires are stagnet. They either have no desire to move into a better position or they dont know to. These guys cant stand in the same spots. On steals to second they are to many times in the wrong position to get the best view. But this is where they are trained to stand. This gos back to ovverhauling how, where, when umpires should move. But until this is done even replay wont help. There are to many close calls that would have to be reviewed. However it would be easy eneough for them to have a cell phone sized monitor on their possesion to look at for replay. With technology something like that would work. Quick and easy. Overall they just have to many bad umpires and the system needs to be changed. As you said to many umpires looking directly at the play and still getting it wrong. Thats the first thing that needs fixing. These guys need to go through a rigorous training program of like a year. Physical and also mental to stop the tosing of players and managers. has anyone seen how NFL coaches tear into sideline judges in NFL games? How can they do it and not MLB umps? Its mind over matter and MLB umps are the worst in any sport at losing their cool and letting things get to them.
by Strocat on Jul 18, 2011 11:39 PM EDT reply actions
Cricket has instant replays much like you've suggested.
An additional umpire in the box. Umpires on the field can refer pretty much anything, and then the captain of each side has two referrals. Although in the case of a correct referral, they don’t lose one (IE if they never refer a wrong decision they can keep challenging forever).
A lot of the criticism behind bringing them into the game was similar – slowing it down. But it really doesn’t seem to have done that in my view.
by Aussie Mariner on Jul 19, 2011 7:39 AM EDT reply actions
Basketball, hockey and NFL football all have review.
Baseball needs to get with the program.
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by Al Yellon on Jul 19, 2011 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
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