There's no reason why MLB shouldn't have a fifth umpire in the press box to overturn calls.
If the only thing good that comes out of Derek Jeter's Academy Award performance is that the debate heats up about whether the use of replay should be expanded then I'm all for that.
The laughable lip service going on in the American media all day Thursday on ESPN's multiple platforms is about whether Jeter cheated and should have come clean to the umpire. Poppycock, it's called competitive advantage and it's been going on in sports since the beginning of time. Why would Jeter not take first base? The umpire believed that he was hit by the pitch, something that subsequent replays showed was not the case, that the ball hit the knob of his bat, deflected into his hip and should have been ruled a foul ball. But, as usual, the umpires huddled, shrugged their collective shoulders and let the original call stand. Rays manager Joe Maddon came out to argue, got tossed and why not? When was the last time that the umpires had the cojones to overrule a call against Yankees?
No, the real debate here is why Major League Baseball has not gone to full replay - not just on home runs - to get the calls right? It's time for Commissioner Bud Selig to shed the traditionalist argument and bring the game into the 21st century. Getting the call right should be paramount.
With the new technology, Hi Def cameras and the like, there is no reason why baseball shouldn't have a fifth umpire in the press box, with access to the multiple angles that are available from the home and visiting broadcasts, to overturn wrong calls. Some would say that the game is already slow enough, it would only bog it down even further. Wrong. One look at the Jeter replay would have taken no more than 30 seconds to get word back down to the umps to put Jeter back into the batter's box. And from what I've seen, managers arguing their point, leading to a dramatic ejection when they feel they've been wronged, takes a hell of a lot longer than any replay review would.
In an era with unbalanced schedules leading to unfair advantages for a number of teams, this is a chance to get things right. Blown calls that have an effect on the outcome of games, effecting pennant races and ultimately championships, should never happen during these modern times. Never.
A recent study by ESPN Outside The Lines, analysing game tapes of every game between June 29 and July 11, found that slightly more than 20 percent of close calls, not involving balls and strikes, were wrong. That's one in five and certainly high enough to warrant MLB moving towards full replay.
Bad enough that umpire Jim Joyce's blown call on the 27th out of a game between the Indians and Tigers cost Armando Galarraga a perfect game on June 3rd. MLB continuing to keep its head in the sand on the issue is the even bigger crime.
SLIP, SLIDING AWAY
The Blue Jays limped into Boston for an off-day Thursday and their dreams of finishing above .500 has taken a serious hit over the last 17 games by losing 11 of them. What is troubling me the most is a return to the sleep-walking ways from seasons past and a lack of professionalism. Whether it's getting Mohawk haircuts, lighting hot foots on teammates, or laying out tape outlines in front of the dugout after someone falls, it sure looks like screwing around is trumping playing hard. They should have been embarrassed by their sweep at the hands of a suddenly resurgent Orioles team, playing hard under new manager Buck Showalter.
The bats have gone cold, the pitching is having trouble throwing strikes and their airtight defence has sprung several leaks. With 16 games remaining on the schedule heading into this weekend at Fenway, 10 against +.500 or playoff teams, I'll be shocked if they'll get the requisite eight wins to finish .500, something that seemed like a lock just three weeks ago. The level of immaturity being shown should be troubling to Alex Anthopoulos moving forward and I'm starting to question the make-up of this ball club. The naysayers, and there were many when this season started, are already starting to clear their throats to bellow "I told you so" when this season limps to a close.
WELL DESERVED HONOUR
Congratulations to Blue Jays centre fielder Vernon Wells on being named the winner of 2010 Branch Rickey Award, recognizing his work with children in the community, both in Toronto and in Quinlan, Texas near his home in Arlington. Wells' Perfect 10 Foundation, in conjunction with Arms of Hope, helped construct eight homes for needy families in the North Texas area. He'll be honoured at a banquet in Denver on November 13th.
