A case for instant replay
Baseball has been around for over a century, although it has only implemented a form of instant replay since late last year. The use of replay, though, is only allowed to make sure the proper call has been made on questionable home runs. Last night’s game ending play at the plate that took place between the Minnesota Twins and the Oakland Athletics, however, gives cause to broaden that scope in the future.
The Twins had given up a 10-run lead throughout the course of the game and found themselves down a run in a high scoring 14-13 game in the top of the ninth. They were down to their last out with the tying run at second and the go-ahead run at first when reliever, Michael Wuertz, threw a pitch in the dirt that got away from catcher, Kurt Suzuki, and rolled to the backstop.
Suzuki had troubles tracking down where the ball had gone as Michael Cuddyer took off from second and headed for home. Suzuki grabbed the ball and tossed it to Wuertz who tagged a sliding Cuddyer. Home plate umpire, Mike Muchlinski, called Cuddyer out, thus ending the game. Cuddyer sprung up from the ground and argued with the umpire as Ron Gardenhire came out to do the same.
A replay of the tag was shown on television and it was clear that Cuddyer slid under the tag and crossed the plate with his leg before Wuertz put his glove down. There wasn’t much that could be done, though, as the game was finished instead of being tied at 14 with a runner on third.
Whether or not to use instant replay in Major League Baseball has been a hot topic for quite some time now. Baseball traditionalist argued that it would take away the human element, while others have argued that it would add too much time to an already long game. Both of those are valid arguments but I think that a limited use of instant replay, aside from home run balls, would greatly help the sport.
Allowing a team to question every single play would be a nightmare for both players and fans. Blown calls are part of all sports and I would not want to see the watchful eye of the camera to be used to second guess balls and strikes, stolen bases or base running plays. The umpires are there for a reason.
Game changing plays, however, namely questionable plays at the plate, could benefit from video replay and slow motion video, especially since those can easily called incorrectly due to the speed of the play or due to the view from which they are standing.
Limiting replay to those calls and home runs would not add too much time to the game either. For example, the Twins had some first-hand experience in the current state of baseball’s instant replay system on Sunday when a home run from Andruw Jones of the Texas Rangers was ruled a foul ball after it was reviewed. It took the umpires about two minutes to get together, watch the footage, overturn the decision and resume the game.
That didn’t add too much to the game, now did it?
I think most fans automatically think to football when the topic of instant replay comes up. With football, the coaches already start with the ability to challenge the officials with their calls on the field. It can also take anywhere from three to five minutes to review a single play. You have to remember, though, that if a play is overturned in football that they have to respot the ball and at times the game clock, which is why it can take so long.
Baseball wouldn’t have any of that. Have the umpires decide when to check the video footage to see if the ball is fair or foul or if the runner is safe or out. It doesn’t need to get much more complex than that. If time really is that important, have a two man video umpire team that makes the replay calls for the crew on the field.
The cameras are already in place. The umpires already have instant replay booths in each of the stadiums. Why can’t they use it for other game changing plays aside from home runs? As the Twins found out last season, one game can make a difference. Let’s hope that doesn’t ring true for them this year as this game will immediately come to mind to all Twins fans. The game the officials decided the outcome in Oakland.
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