Major League Baseball needs to expand instant replay. I know all
of Detroit is with me.
Major League Baseball needs to expand instant replay.
I know all of Detroit is with me.
Twenty eight year old Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga had a perfect game snatched from him after a horribly blown call by first base umpire Jim Joyce with two outs in the top of the ninth inning Wednesday night.
Cleveland Indians’ shortstop Jason Donald rolled a harmless ground ball toward second base that Tigers’ first baseman Miguel Cabrera ranged to his right to glove. Cabrera’s throw to Galarraga, who was covering first, was on target and Donald clearly out.
Inexplicably, Joyce ruled safe, negating the no-no.
Donald was even stunned. Galarraga, whether he was actually in shock or not, only formed a coy smile as he stared perplexed at a steadfast Joyce.
It would have been an unprecedented third perfect game this season, joining Oakland’s Dallas Braden and Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay.
To Joyce’s credit he apologize profusely, and with tears, to Galarraga. And kindly, the righty accepted.
It was a mistake, and those happen. Close plays run rampant in baseball. Tie-goes to the runner and so on. But why not get those ironed out?
On Thursday, Galarraga was presented a new Corvette, but he still had no perfect game.
I feel for both men involved, but it is up to Commissioner Bud Selig now.
He obviously will not reverse the call and award a perfect game, and he shouldn’t. But he should re-evaluate the league’s instant replay policy, revise it and re-implement it.
Replay review was introduced to baseball in 2008 and only covers fair or foul home run disputes, fan interference and whether a ball actually left the field of play for a home run. The rule doesn’t allow for judgment calls to be reviewed.
There is no reason why the MLB shouldn’t take advantage of technology available.
I don’t think umpires will abuse replay. They won’t relinquish all their power. They enjoy holding it over players heads too much.
It’s time for bang-bang plays on the bases or home plate to be included in replay review.
