I know I'm basically doing a bit here but I truly believe baseball needs to catch up with the times. Baseball is of course a beautiful game with many traditions but its time to kick the umpires to the curb. Night after night and every postseason we have some kind of issue with the umpires and we just accept it. "That's just the way it is". And for many years I agree but for some reason I've changed my mind. I'm ready for every call to be correct. I'm not going to give you any stats on the fact that umpires are actually pretty accurate but my main argument is that its time to join the 21st century. Let me lay out my plan. Its not going to slow up the game and it will make it more efficient.
First order of business, lets fix the replay. Right now MLB allows replays for potential home run calls. I never thought that was really a big deal. Majority of the time umpires get that call right but where they miss the most is close plays on the base paths. Now you might be asking me, how can we speed it up? Right now its take the umps around 5-10 minutes to replay a home run. All the umps gather up and talk and then decide to ALL go inside and look at the tape. Time to end that right now! MLB needs to designate one person to all replays. They can travel they can be designated to one ball park but its time make one guy in charge so we don't have to trot the whole crew off the field. Basically, a umpire sits up in a room with TVs with replays. Simple.
So here's the scenario. Play at the plate and the runner is call out on close play. Manager comes out and argues and request to replay. Home plate or crew chief has mic on that talks directly to the "Replay Umpire". He asks for a replay. This can take up to 30 seconds to 2 minutes to get the call. We have all been at home and seen instantaneously what has happened. Sometimes it will be really easy to tell and sometimes it will take a few looks to get it right, but at least it will be right. I don't really have a plan on how many the times a manager can ask for a replay. I just think they should do it automatically regardless. Of course this should extend to plays in the field most importantly the trapped ball in the outfield.
Now to what really sparked this is the strike zone and the umpire behind the plate. I'm not sure I'm ready to fully get rid of the umpire. The pitch tracker technology has really advanced but it might not always be there but I think there are some calls that need to be checked. I believe the best way to take care of this issue is keep the ump behind the plate but give the manager the option to check it. Again I'm not sure yet If I want to limit their amount of challenges but we can't have the manager checking every damn pitch. These are only suggestions and what I believe should be done. The idea is still in its infancy but it needs to be in the discussion. I'm tired of hearing the "game within the game", then we get upset about a call that effects the outcome.
The main goal of this proposal, make the game more efficient. In turn the more replays might make the umpires work harder to make the real call. I know they do a good job and its hard to do, I just think they need some back up. Change isn't always bad and it won't effect the play. I'm sure people were up in arms when helmets were introduced to batters, but we all got over it. Baseball is still running Window 95, time to get a Apple Macbook with Mountain Lion. Will the play ball? What do you guys think? Am I crazy? I already know the answer to that.
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