Poll time: Does blown call reaffirm need for replay?
Buster Posey should have been ruled out on this stolen base attempt in Game 1 (although the call wasn't as obvious as this camera angle might suggest).
SAN FRANCISCO — We have a little time before the Braves attempt to break out offensively against the San Francisco Giants tonight — can they get three hits? — so let’s address the issue that seems to be burning up blogs and message boards: instant replay.
It’s crazy that baseball doesn’t use it to a greater degree. I addressed this in two blogs back in June when Detroit pitcher Armando Galarraga got jobbed out of a perfect game because umpire Jim Joyce blew an obvious call at first base (which he later admitted).
Here’s the blog on baseball’s stubbornness following Joyce’s call.
Here’s the blog on commissioner (still!) Bud Selig’s illogical decision to not overturn the call, which would not have affected the outcome of the game and would’ve righted a wrong.
Back to the Braves. Yes, the Giants’ Buster Posey should’ve been called out on a stolen base attempt in the fourth inning of Game 1, and he eventually scored what would be the game’s lone run. But please, no more whining about how the Braves got robbed.
Second baseman Brooks Conrad didn’t argue the call. Manager Bobby Cox didn’t come out to argue (and he argues everything). Cox explained later: “From the dugout, you can’t see anything and I didn’t see a reaction from our infielders.” And after the Braves lost 1-0, it would have been easy for players to point to that play and complain, but to their credit they didn’t.
Here’s why the Braves lost: They didn’t hit. They didn’t field.
Loading ...Actually, the one amusing thing to come out of the latest ReplayGate was the 180 pulled by Giants manager Bruce Bochy. Bochy had been quoted in an ESPN.com story last month about how he was in favor of baseball expanding its use of replay. Quoting: “I just want to get it right. It’s OK to lose a game if the other team beats you. But if you lose a game because a call goes against you, it’s hard to sleep at night.”
So what did Bochy say after the game Thursday night, given replay would’ve gone against his team? This: “In certain cases, [yes]. But no, plays like this, no, I’m not. You keep the game moving. But I talked about balls maybe down the line, maybe a play at the plate. But, no, you start to slow the game down when you start reviewing every play.”
Yeah. Whatever.
So what are your thoughts on replay use? I’ve put up a poll, but, as always, the floor is yours.
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134 comments Add your comment
Ted M
October 8th, 2010
3:17 pm
More replay is inevitable, the question is when. and of coarse whats tonights lineup.
Matthew
October 8th, 2010
3:18 pm
At the pace the game is CURRENTLY played, TV coverage can show a slo-mo replay before the next pitch. Where are people getting the idea that it would slow the game to a crawl if you included replay?
And we didn’t lose because we couldn’t hit Lincecum, we didn’t lose because of our fielding, we didn’t lose because of the blown call. We lost because of the COMBINATION of all of those, and to reduce it to “We lost because of this one reason” is overly simplistic and flat-out wrong.
Whopper Dawg
October 8th, 2010
3:22 pm
Well, yeah it does. Potentially cost the Braves the first game in a 5 game series. That is a big, big deal.
Thumbody Thed That's Thupid!
October 8th, 2010
3:22 pm
I watched almost every Little League WS game this past August and replay was used with great success. I don’t remember thinking even once it was slowing the game down. Brent Musberger and Orel Hershiser kept track of it and the average replay was only 45 seconds. On top of that there was normally only 2 or 3 instances in a game that was questioned by the opposing manager. There were a couple of times it could have eliminated a team had it not been used. This would take no longer than it took Nomar Garciaparra to adjust his batting gloves and scratch his butt. Bud Selig is just like Cobby Box. They are both stubborn and set in their old-time ways. Get it right, at least in the playoffs. It only serves to cheapen the benefitting team’s success if you don’t!
bud selig dont give a damn
October 8th, 2010
3:22 pm
Is it me or do the Braves seem to get short-changed by the{out of shaped need to go on a diet umpires}every time they get to the play-offs.I mean MLB network needs to do a Top 10 Worst ump calls against the Braves in the play-offs.
Trey
October 8th, 2010
3:25 pm
I see nothing wrong with instant replay, especially if it is for the call that could determine the game.
shut up
October 8th, 2010
3:29 pm
who cares about Armando’s 1 hit shut-out.We are talking about the braves.They could review a play in just a couple minutes if the umps weren’t so fat they could make it to a tv monitor to review the play,instead of wobbling to it.
don
October 8th, 2010
3:32 pm
Leave baseball alone. It has already been damaged enough by designated hitters, inter-league play, artificial fields, and unbalanced schedules. And, contrary to the belief of some, the call didn’t cost the Braves the game. Their ineptness in the batter’s box i8s what beat the Braves. Still, the call gives those who alsways need to blame someone else for losing an excuse.
Revived Braves Fan
October 8th, 2010
3:32 pm
i am for replay on anything but ball and strike calls. Give the manager
2 requests per game. As far as last nights game, the blown call did not
matter. The Braves atters were impatient and the Infante error cost them the game.
Captain Lou Albano
October 8th, 2010
3:34 pm
I believe under certain circumstances they’re going to have to use instant replay. Like if an umpire is out of position. If they’re out of position they’re just guessing, and they should have to use replay. Case closed.
Trey
October 8th, 2010
3:35 pm
don, I’d rather have baseball changed a little to make it better with right calls. I hate the DH, I hate interleague, but I do support instant replay.
Trey
October 8th, 2010
3:36 pm
don, there is nothing wrong with instant replay. That would be a good change, unlike DH rule and artificial turf.
Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:39 pm
Everyone talks about slowing the game down with instant replay. I submit that it will speed the game up. If Posey would have been out then that would have been out three and the end of an inning. Probably would have saved at least 10 minutes. In football you have to play a certain amount of time so you only prolong the game whereas in baseball the length of the game is determined by how long it takes for each team to get 27 outs.
Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:40 pm
What do you think, Jeff?
GTBob
October 8th, 2010
3:41 pm
A challenge system might work, but full blown instant replay? No thanks. We have all watched college football games where it seems like things are dragging along because there have been multiple plays “under review”. Just imagine that in baseball. A sport that is already fairly slow. Imagine having to take a 3-5 minute break from the game every time there is a close play at first. It would get annoying really fast.
Abnerish
October 8th, 2010
3:42 pm
It’s about getting the call right. For example, when UGA’s Washaun Ealey fumbled the ball on the goal line against South Carolina earlier this year, it was originally ruled down. But replays showed without a doubt that it was a fumble. They reviewed it and got the call right. I hated it because it went against my team and we eventually lost, but I loved the fact that they got it right (unlike the infamous Jasper Sanks non-fumble against Tech). As a fan, that’s all I want the officials and umpires to do: get the call right (and be as invisible as possible). Baseball should be no different. I think the technology is not there yet to replace balls and strikes, but for close plays at the bases or to determine a catch or a fair/foul ball? That should be a no brainer.
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Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:44 pm
Also, I am tired of people saying we shouldn’t have won anyway because we didn’t score. If Posey’s out, then the Gnat’s would not have scored either.
Terry Funk
October 8th, 2010
3:48 pm
Abnerish has swayed me…I am now for instant replay….(except for balls and strikes)
Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:48 pm
Mike, you want some cheese with that whine.
Abnerish
October 8th, 2010
3:49 pm
Selig should come out after the season and say: “for the integrity of the game, we will be expanding instant replay to include every play except balls and strikes and check swings. There will be one Replay Umpire that reviews every play and if further review is required, the Replay Ump will signal to the Crew Chief that a review is under way. The Replay Ump has the authority to overrule any call. There will be no challenges as the use of instant replay will be used as an extra set of eyes to make sure that every call is the right call. A Manager or player can request that a play be reviewed, but whether a play is reviewed or overturned is at the discretion of the Replay Ump and the umpiring crew.” It’s really that simple.
Kashi
October 8th, 2010
3:52 pm
As long as Bud is in charge, we will never see instant replay. Its waste of time to whine here. MLB official already review lots of replays right after the plays to mark earned run or unearned runs, hits and errors. Only thing missing is umpires wearing ear pieace and ask MLB official it is safe or out? Everything is already in place, how hard is it to implement 1 step further?
Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:52 pm
Paul Emmel could not carry Eric Gregg’s jock!
Marc in FL
October 8th, 2010
3:53 pm
We’ll get a bad call in our favor in the next game or two. It all evens out, leave it be.
Think about this
October 8th, 2010
3:53 pm
I though Emmel was a chef in New Orleans. Bam!
siskel_god
October 8th, 2010
3:54 pm
The blown call only reaffirms the Braves needs to go out and acquire about three legitimate bats. Boo replay, yeah real hitters!
Abnerish
October 8th, 2010
3:59 pm
I’m glad I could change one person’s mind. Unfortunately, it wasn’t Bud Selig’s!! Oh well, I’ll take it.
Voice of Reason
October 8th, 2010
4:02 pm
Instant replay for big things: tag outs, fair/foul, catch/no catch, tag-ups,etc. For balls and strikes, no challenges, but instead have a standardized system like the networks use to show whether pitches are in the strike zone installed at each stadium–then simply make the tapes of balls/strikes calls available to the teams, the media and MLB. That way, you don’t break up the flow of the game, but you let everyone know who the crappy home plate umps are (e.g., Eric Gregg). While keeping detailed ump stats would be nice, wether the data is used to put the most reliable umps into the playoffs is up to MLB and the unions.
TN_BravesFas
October 8th, 2010
4:05 pm
Concerning the fact that the umpire said none of the Braves questioned the call, why would they want to question it? The only thing that happens when they dare to question the miscalls is that the player and manager gets tossed by the hotheaded umpires. There was not chance the call was going to be reversed and Bobby would have got thrown out. If they don’t get rid of these idiots the game is doomed.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 8th, 2010
4:06 pm
I’m in favor of replay if other steps are taken to speed the game up. Specifically, a pitch clock and limits on pickoff attempts and how often a batter calls time and steps out of the box.
jfreak13713
October 8th, 2010
4:06 pm
Bad calls are a tradition that fuel rivalries and keep fans arguing even well after the season is over! Bad calls are a real part of this game and yes sometimes they cost teams and fans more than they wish to bare, but it’s the game that I’ve grown up with and really don’t care to change. That call last night did not change the game. The Braves lost because they could not hit or play defense.
If replay is used I would only want it used like the NFL. I per game and the booth could call review after 7th inning, but never on BALLS or STRIKES.
Braves Win tonight 5 – 3!
Plate Appearance
October 8th, 2010
4:08 pm
It stinks that the Giants only run ultimately scored as a result of a blown call!
Get the call right! Use replay — for close calls on the bases and close calls down the lines!
Come on Bud, do something here!
Ken Stallings
October 8th, 2010
4:13 pm
I have two concerns about the state of umpiring in baseball. First is the apparent increase in bad calls. Second is the apparent increase in hostility by umpires toward players and managers. At least the Jim Joyce bad call was the exception in that Joyce displayed supreme character in taking the blame.
Now, contrast that with the typical example set by Bob Davidson on that ridiculously blown “foul” ball hit by Florida versus the Phillies shortly after the all star break. Rather than look at the tape and come back the next day and admit he blew it, Davidson foolishly and pridefully used physics-defying logic to say the ball hit the line fair in the infield, curved around and outside third base, and then when past the base, reversed its curve and hit the chalk in the outfield!
Right! And my grandma was Pam Anderson in her Labatt’s Blue beer girl prime!
The essential problem is two fold. First, baseball is resisting the value of replay to get bad calls right. Second, baseball is failing to hold umpires accountable in the same public manner to which players are held accountable.
If a player performs poorly, he is publicly sent down or released. If an umpire performs poorly, he is quietly send down or retires. And those actions are done many months after the poor performance. Further, when a player violates the sanctity of the game, he is publicly fined and suspended. When an umpire blows calls or violates the strike zone his rebuke is quiet.
This should change! Umpires should be graded by the ruthless yardstick of video replay and Questec ball/strike analysis, and the grades should be made public. Umpires should be rated on their percentage of correct out calls and percentage of correct ball/strike calls. Further a ratio should be kept on numbers of players/managers disqualified from a game based on an argued call that was ruled correctly versus incorrectly.
Again, all those statistics should be as public as a player’s combined statistics.
Finally, those grades should be used to evalute promotions and demotions. Being designated the crew chief should go to the top 25% of graded umpires and there is no seniority given. Likewise the bottom 10% of umpires should be relegated to the next lowest league with the top 10% of umpires at that level promoted to the next highest league.
Yes, that means that an MLB crew chief could actually go to AAA the next season for poor performance! Strange as that sounds, it is precisely the ruthlessly honest performance-based manner that the players and managers are judged by!
And yes, once an umpire has five years of service total, if he grades in the bottom 10% of rookie league ball, he is terminated by MLB as an umpire without any options for re-hire. So, that means an umpire could go from MLB league to out of rookie league in five seasons being rated in the bottom 10% of each league at season’s end!
Those grades should be based upon a formula that tallies the statistical measurements of outs, strikes, and ejections resulting from good/bad calls. Ejections from good calls should not count against the umpire, but ejections from bad calls should unless the written report indicates physical contact or a prolonged argument lasting longer than a set amount of time. This means that if an umpire shows a “quick fuse” so to speak, then he better be sure he got the call right, else it will count against his grade. Finally, any call intially gotten wrong, but corrected through conference or use of video replay during the game, shall not count against the umpire’s grade. This would also mitigate random chance that one umpire simply got more close calls to make than his peers.
I image if these suggestions were adopted, we’d see a significant improvement in the quality of MLB umpires!
Around The Horn
October 8th, 2010
4:18 pm
After 162 games to get in the playoffs, a team — any team — DESERVES TO GET RIGHT CALLS WHILE IN THE PLAYOFFS!
The Braves-Giants game should have been scoreless going into the 9th!
Use replay!
Game altering blown calls are not only a blight upon baseball and its fans — but also on THE OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER AND BUD SELIG HIMSELF!
Ken Stallings
October 8th, 2010
4:19 pm
And to those who argue that “blown calls” are part of the game, why do you believe that “getting calls right” should not be part of the game in the future?
SadDawg
October 8th, 2010
4:20 pm
The Little League World Series uses replays.
Enough said?
Roger
October 8th, 2010
4:24 pm
In this day of electronic technology it’s absurd to miss a call with instant replays available. I say put a video replay screen and a set of headphones in each home-team dugout. Let the home plate umpire and one other appointed umpire for each game review the replays as they talk to the replay technician who is up in the booth. Give each manager 3 protests per game. I say even let him question strike calls in situations with runners on base when a called strike 3 would result in the third out. I don’t think a manager should be charged for a protest when a home-run comes into question. The umpires, I would hope, could work this out on whether a ball exits the park for a homer or is fair or foul. Let’s make this hi-tech stuff help us humans get it right. It’s available. Use it!!!
Mitchell
October 8th, 2010
4:25 pm
Braves suck.
gt45
October 8th, 2010
4:27 pm
Can Ankiel bunt?
Braves fan in bama
October 8th, 2010
4:27 pm
I hate it the braves got screwed on the call; obviously out by two feet. What a moron umpire, he should be suspended of his duties for the rest of the playoffs. There needs to be consequences for this incompetence.
Lowe pitches a great game and get two hits support. Bats need to warm up or it is see ya! No bunts, no stepping out to disrupt timing, nothing. Chipper get off you butt and help lead. You know more about hitting than anybody on the team. Do not worry about TP ,he has proven he is worthless and will not be here next year! Go Braves, get this one tonight!
Braves Fan Since "80
October 8th, 2010
4:29 pm
The Yankees had a bad call against them…. you see it did not matter…… Management should take this loss……. WOW we give up VasQuez and our 2009 best player and we get? we give up Soriano and get what…. not a backup infielder at triple A that can contribute.
All of you thinking we should hold on to all of our pitching how does 2 hits 1 walk feel…… Oh by the way….. those three players are the only ones that would be on another playoff team
Braves Fan Since "80
October 8th, 2010
4:33 pm
Braves fan in bama ……. TP carried the team to a WS Chipper went along for the ride……. Chipper has never lead a team only made snide remarks
ajc pariah
October 8th, 2010
4:37 pm
Braves have always been cheesed in the playoffs. But what difference does it make? Braves are allergic to home plate anyway.
Najeh Davenpoop
October 8th, 2010
4:42 pm
I don’t see why baseball can’t just have an umpire sitting in a booth who is solely responsible for replay though. Cricket, a sport that is virtually unheard of in America, has a video umpire who sits in a booth waiting to be called upon by the field umpire in the event of a disputed call. All the on-field ump has to do is signal for the video umpire, who then signals whether or not the call was correct using a red light and a green light. The whole process takes about five seconds. I don’t see why this couldn’t work in baseball.
I still stand by my earlier post though — baseball needs a pitch clock and limits on batters calling time and pickoff attempts.
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 8th, 2010
4:46 pm
Normally, I am a football blogger but circumstances now cause me to expand my horizons. I am losing my job as Temporary Mascot at Georgia. UGA Read: “He is loosing his job they’re.” I was never really comfortable there. First thing they asked me to do -even before they painted my a$$-was to pull some teeth so I would fit in on campus. I believe in instant replay. Brooks Conrad (a good name for a dog, right?) had that man out at second and a replay would have been proof. I have applied for work with the Braves and am awaiting their response. I am working on some chin hair now (though it is coming in slowly) and hope to be a Buck Commander.
ajc pariah
October 8th, 2010
4:49 pm
Let’s see.Our leadoff hitter ends up at second.Our number two hitter.also one of three potential sluggers in lineup.Why #2.Bobby sure ain’t gonna move Omar over with a bunt, so the #3 can possibly sacrifice him in and score and early lead.Of course watching srike one and then strike two and then flailing at ball one for a strikeout reminds me of the Dale Murphy school of hitting.Sometimes I wonder if TP doesn’t use Murph’s old videos for training.No offense Murph,I’m just sayin’.
jojo
October 8th, 2010
4:51 pm
YES, BASEBALL NEEDS REPLAY AS LONG AS THE UMPIRING MAKE SHABBY CALLS. THIS HAS BEEN A TERRIBLE SEASON WITH THE UMPIRES. A TOTAL REFLECTION ON MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.
richard
October 8th, 2010
4:51 pm
THE STOLEN BASE DID NOT GET US BEAT. THE GROUND BALL THAT WENT UNDER INFANTE’S GLOVE IS WHAT GOT US BEAT. YOU ALSO CANNOT WIN IF YOU DON’T SCORE. no you got it wrong they both got us beat if he would been called out he would have never scored the run am not say braves would won but we never know because of that blow call if it was close i might under stood but he was out buy a good 3 foot. this is mlb and playoff so replays should be use in mlb if only in playoffs.
Terry Funk
October 8th, 2010
4:51 pm
Tonight is not a must win….but it’s close, Tommy is soooo freaking due for some run support…after being shutout last night do the Braves score some runs..?? no clue it wouldn’t shock me if we got shutout again….this team is impossible to figure out…
The Temporary Mascot formerly known as Russ
October 8th, 2010
4:52 pm
Some say I am too little to be a Braves player but how have the big guys worked out? Glaus? Lee? I think a little dog could work some big walks like Chipper used to do . . . and then, I can steal second. Nobody else can do that. After I get to second, I will move to third if anybody – anybody – can make contact with the ball. If not, I’ll just steal third. Then, it will be up to Bobby’s successor to find somebody to drive me in. If no one can be found . . . I’ll just steal home like Blanco used to do when he was playing here. I will be a very exciting little dog ballplayer.