Until recently, instant replay in Major League Baseball was limited to boundary calls involving home runs. Now, managers will have the opportunity to challenge one play per game, two if the first one is overturned. The list of what can be challenged has grown significantly compared to the single item: home runs.
Play’s that can now be challenged include: home runs, ground-rule double, fan interference, stadium boundary calls, force plays, tag plays, fair and foul in the outfield only, a trapped ball in the outfield, hit by pitch, timing play, passing of a runner, and record keeping.
This long list has some fans concerned that a baseball game will now be even more lengthy due to the replays. But will it be? With at most 4 plays being challenged per game and the minimal replays we see for home runs, having a significant amount of time added to the game is unlikely. The average time to review a challenge is 90 seconds. With that said, it seems as though there might be five to ten minutes added to a game. Is the change worth it? Is it too much or not enough?
Here’s what some of YOUR former Boise Hawks had to say …
“I think it’s a good thing as long as they don’t take too long to get the call right. I know they can’t replay everything and that’s a good thing. But replaying fan interference and home runs, I don’t see anything wrong with that, the umpires just want to get the call right.” – Jacob Rogers
“My initial reaction is that I’m in favor of it. We’ll only truly know how it’ll affect the game after we see it in action, but I like the idea of it. Baseball is the type of game where the entire season could hang in the balance of a split second decision and I think anything we can do to be sure the right call is made will only help the game” – Ian Dickson (now with the Washington Nationals)
“I personally really like the changes that were made to instant replay, making sure important calls are ruled correctly is essential. Nobody wants another Armando Galarraga and umpire Jim Joyce blowing his perfect game. There are still judgment calls and the human element that is baseball.” – Eddie Orozco
“I don’t agree with it, baseball is a game of inches and close calls by the umpires. I feel like replays are going to take away from the game. People already think baseball is hard to follow because it’s slow, now they’re going to add replays which will slow the game down even more. Personally, I say leave the challenges and replays to other sports and just let us play baseball.” – Rock Shoulders
“I think it’s a good thing to have finally. All major sports are going to it, and it’s something that we needed to have to go along with today’s technology. Now we will at least have close plays looked at and the correct call made. It also saves the umps from getting harassed.” – Cael Brockmeyer
“In my opinion I’m totally for the instant replay. Just like in other sports they can revert back to the replay to see what the right call should be. For baseball it would be to decipher whether or not that big play that just happened was fair or foul, safe or out, interfered with or legitimate. That would mean the difference of a World Series if you really think about it. Or what about the perfect game that was lost due to the bad call on the final out for Galarraga. This will also be a big help to the umpires so they don’t have so much pressure to make the split second decision that could ultimately change a game or a season. I think that this is going to help the game become as true as it can be in those regards.” – Pierce Johnson
High Heels {and} Highlights 