Another question about baseball since it is the playoffs:
Some disputed calls in this year's baseball playoffs have brought up discussion of whether to incorporate instant replay into baseball (especially the third strike in the dirt play during the White Sox-Angels series).
Do you think MLB should adopt instant replay? Only in certain situations/games?
What are the benefits to having instant replay?
What are the costs to having instant replay?
Who receives these benefits and who bears these costs?
I want the answers to be reasoned out in terms of benefits and costs, not just a gut reaction because a team you root for got jobbed by an umpire.
Also, why do you think baseball has not seriously looked at the issue before?
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8 comments:
Ok, so I'm not really a baseball fan, but I do not think that instant replays should be adopted.
On one hand, why should a team suffer because the ref isn't paying attention? This is the same in every sport, the biggest controversies come about after a ref makes a bad call, why can't they just verify, end of story, and then no one can complain.
However, the costs of having instant replay would be the extra time spent reviewing the replays. This could slow the game down to a crawl, and it's not like baseball games are not long enough.
I would say that both teams and fans would benefit from instant replays because decisions would be known to be correct, and no team will have to suffer because of a bad call. However, I would say that the cost of the extra time for instant replays would outway the benifit of a sure call.
I think that baseball has not seriously looked at the issue before because they know that baseball games cannot afford to be any longer than they are already.
I think baseball should use instant replay, but only in certain situations. Ball/strike calls should not be reviewable because nearly every pitch would need to be reviewed, and there's already like a 30 second gap between pitches. In this case, the benefit of a correct call is outweighed by the cost of hours of time added to a game. However, close plays at home plate, foul balls, or close catches should be reviewed. The benefit of getting these calls right, which can result in more runs or another out, is much greater than the benefit from calling a single pitch correctly. Because there are so many games in a baseball season, replay could only be used in the playoffs, where the cost of one game is much greater than a regular season game.
Replay has worked well in football and basketball, and if used correctly, it would reduce the subjectivity of the game without adding too much time.
Richard
I do NOT agree with greg...instant replays should not be adopted.
We all know that umpires are not perfect, but they are part of the game. If the ball hits an umpire, it is in play. They are pretty much part of the field except they are calling the game.
THINK ABOUT IT, if instant replay were adopted in baseball, THEY WOULD WANT TO INSTANT REPLAY EVERY CONTROVERSIAL PITCH. Outside corner, inside corner, the pitchers want to make sure that a strike is a strike and a ball is a ball so it would make the game a lot slower.
The benefits are a very accurate game, but the costs are the fun, and more importantly, it would take away the tradition of baseball. The benefits of instant replays all the time would be the satisfaction of winning a World Series would be even greater because the team really did deserve to win.
Football has already adopted instant replay because it is entirely too dangerous for referees to be so close to the action to make a call. In baseball, umpires can get within a foot of the catcher or a few feet behind first base to make a call.
---Paul Moustoukas
I agree with Paul in the fact that i think having umpires call everything is part of the game. Instant replays would basically brake that tradition. I think that if there were instant replays, every play would be replayed. Each coach would want to make sure that the unpire's calls are accurate. However, this would also make the game A LOT longer. And that would not be fun for the players or the fans. The unpire's job is to make the calls and they know what they are doing even if some of their calls are questionable.
The cost of having instant replays would be time. They would prolong the game immensely. But Instant replays would also have its benefits. They would help out with those tough calls that could in the end, make a huge impact. But in the end, it is easier and more fun to not have instant replays.
-courtney
I would say baseball is and should stay a very subjective sport. Adding instant replay would make the game way to technical and not fun. For example every double played turned in baseball would be reviewed because the fielder almost never actually touches second base. But, this has become part of the game. This leads to more double plays and less injuries which makes the game more exciting. Same with a first baseman taking his foot off the bag to early. Nobody now cares if the first baseman pulls his foot early on a routine play, but if it were to be reviewed the runner would technically be safe. I'm a huge fan of instant replay in football, but adding reviews to football didnt change the way the game is played. Part of the fun of baseball is having unique umpires and it needs to stay that way for all the same reasons they decided not to have machines call balls and strikes. Efficeny will add very few positives to the game of baseball.
Brian Berkowitz
I agree with Paul about the costs and benefits of instant replays and i dont think that they should be admitted. More and more plays will be replayed until the whole game is examined way to closely.
I think baseball hasnt examined this new approach for two reasons. First, baseball is the traditional American sport, and umpires are part of that tradition. Breaking tradition is always hard. Also, baseball at times can be long... being able to yell at the umpires is part of what keeps the game interesting and adds controversy to the sport.
-kelly
I agree with Paul about the costs and benefits of instant replays and i dont think that they should be admitted. More and more plays will be replayed until the whole game is examined way to closely.
I think baseball hasnt examined this new approach for two reasons. First, baseball is the traditional American sport, and umpires are part of that tradition. Breaking tradition is always hard. Also, baseball at times can be long... being able to yell at the umpires is part of what keeps the game interesting and adds controversy to the sport.
-kelly
I also agree with Kelly and Paul! Seriously, almost every other pitch would be asked to replay! The umpires are part of the game. Just like in highschool sports sometimes you get good ones and other times you get bad ones its just part of the game. I mean after a loss no one would have any excuses for the loss! Kristen
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