Why no instant replay in MLB?

[phillyaggie]

I was just wondering what is the big philosophical issue with not having instant replay in baseball.

Just watching the Phillies @ Reds game this Labor Day afternoon. At the top of the 5th inning, Juan Pierre was ruled safe at first as he hit a grounder in the gap between second and first base. TV instant replay showed he didn't in fact beat out the throw and that he was out. There are so many such instances in the long MLB season, where blown calls actually turn the outcome of some games. Although how would you go about implementing something like that? Every single close call would go challenged? Or the team manager gets 3 calls to challenge like in the NFL?

[Gladys]

Instant replay in baseball - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[johnnie]

I was just wondering what is the big philosophical issue with not having instant replay in baseball.

Just watching the Phillies @ Reds game this Labor Day afternoon. At the top of the 5th inning, Juan Pierre was ruled safe at first as he hit a grounder in the gap between second and first base. TV instant replay showed he didn't in fact beat out the throw and that he was out. There are so many such instances in the long MLB season, where blown calls actually turn the outcome of some games. Although how would you go about implementing something like that? Every single close call would go challenged? Or the team manager gets 3 calls to challenge like in the NFL?

How long do you want games to be? 5, 6 hours now? It evens out usually over the course of a season. Thems the breaks.

[2happy4u]

It happens in all sports. It's part of the game.

[mixiboi]

Because they can't figure a way yet to make everyone happy....they will one day and people will still complain...

[phillyaggie]

How long do you want games to be? 5, 6 hours now? It evens out usually over the course of a season. Thems the breaks.

I think it's about holding on to tradition. Adding replay may be 3x for each team for baserunning calls isn't going to add a lot of extra time.

As for games taking extra time-- how about outlawing velcro?! Every damn batter after every no-hit pitch steps out of the batters box, removes his glove, puts it back on, then steps back up... we could possibly shave 30 minutes off each game if batters are ready for the next pitch as soon as the pitcher is ready...! seriously!

And use those extra 30 minutes (if that much is even required) for replays on ball/foul or out/safe calls.

[phillyaggie]

Because they can't figure a way yet to make everyone happy....they will one day and people will still complain...

not everyone will ever be made happy or contented about anything, so we should all just put our feet up and not do anything different/new?

[eldondre]

I think it's about holding on to tradition. Adding replay may be 3x for each team for baserunning calls isn't going to add a lot of extra time.

As for games taking extra time-- how about outlawing velcro?! Every damn batter after every no-hit pitch steps out of the batters box, removes his glove, puts it back on, then steps back up... we could possibly shave 30 minutes off each game if batters are ready for the next pitch as soon as the pitcher is ready...! seriously!

And use those extra 30 minutes (if that much is even required) for replays on ball/foul or out/safe calls.

if it wasn't velcro it would be something else, you could ban them from stepping out of the box (I think it used to be that way).
johnnie is right, unlimited replay would be a disaster but I would support the manager's right to three a game (including home runs)..the signal would be throwing his hat on the ground. in football you lose a timeout, what could you lose in baseball? in a long season it may not amount to much so perhaps it should only be applied to playoff games. baseball already has a problem with long games.

[johnnie]

if it wasn't velcro it would be something else, you could ban them from stepping out of the box (I think it used to be that way).
johnnie is right, unlimited replay would be a disaster but I would support the manager's right to three a game (including home runs)..the signal would be throwing his hat on the ground. in football you lose a timeout, what could you lose in baseball? in a long season it may not amount to much so perhaps it should only be applied to playoff games. baseball already has a problem with long games.

I feel its part of the lure of the game. The technology is there to do away with an ump behind the plate calling balls and strikes but that would ruin the game IMO. We could sit there and watch Fox's strikebox or whatever they call it but what fun is that? Bad calls are a part of sports. Its what makes it what it is.....entertainment. Bitching with your friends over a beer about a bad call makes it what it is. If it was an exact science there would be no discussion.

[mixiboi]

not everyone will ever be made happy or contented about anything, so we should all just put our feet up and not do anything different/new?

We can't do anything, its up to the 30 team owners and MLB, which is why its so hard...its like freaking congress sometimes...

[phillyaggie]

Well, whatever it is, NFL seems to figure it out as a business much before the other private sports business cartels.

Yes, baseball games can be long (except when Lee pitches! haha). And in a 160 (or however many) game season, one or two losses or unearned wins won't amount to much. But I guess I just want MLB to try it out... what little replay they do have now really hasn't changed the game feel. I'm not saying get rid of the umps and refs... just have that extra layer of tech, 3x a game or something.

[johnnie]

Well, whatever it is, NFL seems to figure it out as a business much before the other private sports business cartels.

Yes, baseball games can be long (except when Lee pitches! haha). And in a 160 (or however many) game season, one or two losses or unearned wins won't amount to much. But I guess I just want MLB to try it out... what little replay they do have now really hasn't changed the game feel. I'm not saying get rid of the umps and refs... just have that extra layer of tech, 3x a game or something.

Maybe a replay or two per playoff game I could live with. Just like how they add extra umpires in the outfield for those games. Keep the regular season the same. Im old school though.

[mixiboi]

The NFL took many concessions before they finally allowed got to the system today(the electronic buzzer controversy stands out) and even the current system still annoys some team.

Reviewing NFL's instant replay - Los Angeles Times

And so far the only Instant replay in MLB is for Home Runs.

Instant replay in baseball - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[raider.adam]

I'm fine with the way it is.

All I want is for the stadiums to replay plays on the big screen for us tio see (whether controversial or not).

[Ho Chi Minh]

I was just wondering what is the big philosophical issue with not having instant replay in baseball.

The big philosophical issue? Seriously? Have you just started following baseball??

Here is a primer: Around the Horn » Baseball And Tradition. Tradition And Baseball

[PhillyCuse]

The NFL took many concessions before they finally allowed got to the system today(the electronic buzzer controversy stands out) and even the current system still annoys some team.

Reviewing NFL's instant replay - Los Angeles Times

And so far the only Instant replay in MLB is for Home Runs.

Instant replay in baseball - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I have really done a 180 over the years on replay in the NFL. I used to think it was ridiculous to not get more calls right if you had the ability. But even disregarding the time consumption aspect, the only thing that matters to me is does it ensure that the 'right' team wins? I would say 'no'.
There are so many bad unreviewable judgement calls - holding, pass interference (the baseball version of this would obv. be balls&strikes)...sometimes these calls work in favor of one team and there's nothing that will even that out. For the team that gets the short end of those calls, replay can overturn the one favorable call they got in the game based on one of the NFL's many minutia technicalities that announcers obsess over "omg that's not a catch 'cause he didn't make a football move". Just uggh, GTFO. Plus they still screw up after reviewing the plays a lot of the time.

[PASnow]

I agree. First, I think it's dragging the games on too much now. Each team gets 2 challenges, so that's basically 4 added commercial breaks, plus now ALL TD's and turnovers are reviewed. Plus you make a good point about certain plays not being reviewable, such as when a play is incorrectly blown dead or runner ruled down prior to fumbling. I get the reasoning, because when the players hear a whistle they would claim that they gave up on the play, but it just makes it agitating. Plus it doesn't help when refs are confused about when to not blow a play dead, then you end up wasting 3 minutes over what was that absurd 'fumble' call when Vick obviously threw it 10 yards. I'm sure there could have been a possiblility of a technicality in the rule, another Tuck rule per se, but c'mon, that's just wasting the fans time on BS. It was a throw. Reasons like that are making it annoying. Don't overthink the rulebook, just play the game.

[raider.adam]

Yeah. And don't count the times where the review gets called wrong too. Or where a coach uses a challenge and later an even worse call happened and he has no challenges left to overturn it.

I think baseball has it right. Use it to verify a controversial homerun. Other than that, just play the game.

[#1MetsFan]

Four words: Integrity of the game.