Mistakes in umpire calls are going to happen because people make mistakes, and umpires are people. Before we can even think about replays to correct mistakes, replays on the big screens in the ball parks need to be shown. Major League Baseball and the Umpire Union need to understand that the game is for the fans...no fans, no games. ALL fans want to see replays of close plays on the big screen! Umpires who make calls with confidence and professionalism should welcome replays. So what if they make a bad call and fix it if necessary...every fan, player and manager want the correct call made. Umpires should too. There should be no problem with an umpire saying, "Ooops! I missed that one. Here is the correct call." I would be happy to have a game last five more minutes if it means that the team that deserves to win does win. They may even shorten the game because there would be fewer or shorter rubarbs. How can 40,000 people sitting or standing 200 feet away can tell a fair ball from a foul but an umpire 15 feet away misses it? (Joe Mauer's "foul" ball call by Phil Cuzzi in the 2009 ALDS) How come sweep tags for outs are commonplace, but not in deciding a 19 inning game? Replays should be on the BIG screen and a 30 second limit to replay calls should be allowed...FOR THE FANS.
Mistakes in umpire calls are going to happen because people make mistakes, and umpires are people. Before we can even think about replays to correct mistakes, replays on the big screens in the ball parks need to be shown. Major League Baseball and the Umpire Union need to understand that the game is for the fans...no fans, no games. ALL fans want to see replays of close plays on the big screen! Umpires who make calls with confidence and professionalism should welcome replays. So what if they make a bad call and fix it if necessary...every fan, player and manager want the correct call made. Umpires should too. There should be no problem with an umpire saying, "Ooops! I missed that one. Here is the correct call." I would be happy to have a game last five more minutes if it means that the team that deserves to win does win. They may even shorten the game because there would be fewer or shorter rubarbs. How can 40,000 people sitting or standing 200 feet away can tell a fair ball from a foul but an umpire 15 feet away misses it? (Joe Mauer's "foul" ball call by Phil Cuzzi in the 2009 ALDS) How come sweep tags for outs are commonplace, but not in deciding a 19 inning game? Replays should be on the BIG screen and a 30 second limit to replay calls should be allowed...FOR THE FANS.