Columnists
Getting it right
“Yer out” cried the umpire.
“No way, I was safe,” replied the runner, after sliding across home plate.
“Well now,” said the umpire. “Apparently, we disagree. So I will now meet with my brethren on the field, discuss the issue, and see if we can come up with a solution. If that fails, we are going to watch television replays of the situation. We have cameras situated throughout the ballpark, and back at our company studios in New York. We have eagle-eyed judges who will tell us exactly how the play should have been called. I trust you will be satisfied with the result.”
The runner, completely perplexed, nods his head and ambles toward the dugout, awaiting the verdict.
The National Hockey League, the National Basketball League, and the National Football League have been relying on television replays to help the officials for several years. Baseball now uses the replay to determine whether or not balls hit in the home run range are actually round trippers.
It is high time that baseball entered the twenty-first century in this regard. And yet, the whining has already begun. This will be a hot topic for all of the talking heads for the next few months.
Rosie DiManno, a columnist with the Toronto Star, jumped all over the issue in her column last weekend. She believes that officiating should be done on the field. She admits that there will be errors made. But that is just part of the game. Hogwash.
Get it right the first time, says I.
She referred to the game last year when Armando Galarraga came very close to posting the 21st perfect game as a pitcher with the Tigers. Umpire Jim Joyce supposedly missed the call at first base, perhaps was mistaken, and called the runner “safe”. The call was, in fact, correct, as the first baseman was juggling the ball as the runner touched the base. No matter. They actually wrote a book about the incident, together. So sweet!
Bud Selig, the current commissioner of baseball, has changed his stance on the issue. He is quoted as saying, “My opinion has evolved!” What a great expression! Surely it will work for most politicians, in most instances.
Baseball’s replay system will be similar to that used for football. Managers may challenge calls, and plays will be reviewed. But only so many. After the manager has exhausted his quota, anything goes.
I can just imagine how managers of days gone by would have enjoyed the replay; however, the fireworks would still be the same after the field boss had used up all of his challenges.
Earl Weaver comes to mind. His tantrums on the field rank with the best. Lou Piniella also put on a good show when doubting the judgement of the men in blue. Leo “The Lip” Durocher had serious doubts about an umpire’s vision, at various times. Hank Bauer played several years with the Yankees, then put on a manager’s hat and chewed out more than a few arbitrators. Casey Stengel did not always agree with certain calls.
There is great entertainment when a manager protests a call. Umpires listen, up to the breaking point, and then give the old “You are outta here” sign. Managers then have to follow the game in the clubhouse, on a television screen.
We will still get the protests. Just a little later in the game, when the challenges are exhausted. The process will definitely improve the game.
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