Saturday, June 5, 2010

Here's a Wakeup Call For Bud Selig: Expand Instant Replay in MLB


When an umpire blows a call to stifle Detroit’s Armando Galarraga and the 21st perfect game in major league history, hijacking and wrecking much of an impeccable mark in sports, then we assume that a fraudulent sport may be rigged or even the worst call in Major League Baseball history.

Upon glancing at instant replay, veteran umpire Jim Joyce blundered a call when he ruled Cleveland’s Jason Donald safe with two out in the ninth inning of a near-perfect conclusion.

There’s no reason to argue that it was one of the worst calls ever, an error on an umpire who rarely botches a decisive play at first base.

The best way to describe an erroneous misunderstanding is that Joyce was confounded and certainly hadn’t noticed a mistaken call that would have been overturned if the majors extended and enforced instant replay.

It’s certainly a modernized and a refined game, unlike 20 years ago when the development of technology was limited, including DVR or review booths.

But now, a foolish and heavy discussion is heard quite often in the majors, regarding gaffes that ruin integrity and pride within a sport once known as a well-respected event.

It’s clear that baseball is stuck in usual turmoil, on the brink of destruction, whether it relates to asinine walk-off celebrations, performance-enhancers, or poor calls.

These days, we point our fingers at commissioner Bud Selig, the unsettled man in charge of the shame that has ruptured the reputation of baseball.

He hasn’t been a strict enforcer or advocate in declaring instant replay, and refused to institute it for debatable home run shots that normally resulted in disputable evidence.

He’s the biggest embarrassment in sports, failing to take pride and stricter measures in an unhinged league, and allows players so much latitude.

And what has happened over the years is that players’ insidious nature tricked and deceived Selig, a man in denial of imposing stricter boundaries for shams and con artists who are disloyal and violate the drug policy by using performing-enhancing drugs to improve their performance level.

If he has yet to declare reliable drug testing, then what makes you think he’ll demand instant reviews of a mistaken call?

Indeed, it was costly and humiliatingly, an awful call Wednesday night, perhaps a bad one we’ll never forget as Galarraga was on pace for recording perfection.

The problem hatching in baseball remains whether the calls are accurate or inaccurate, but the only way to determine the proper outcome is by remodeling tradition a bit and expanding the use of instant replay.


This lingering issue is beyond simplicity, but outrageous in such a way that baseball refuses to employ technology. It’s surprising that he had sense enough to insist he’d deliberate on expanding instant replay to eliminate blown calls.

It’s never too late to contemplate on rectifying a continuing crisis, but eventually he must awaken and snap out of his absent-minded habits to virtually avoid misunderstood ruling that can change the dynamics of a game.

He should be aware that umpires aren’t perfect in getting the calls correct, and if the game happens to be on the line, it may cost a club a much-needed win.

The human errors rationalize that Joyce has a tougher task, making sure calls are perfect as possible to grasp a consensus proposal as to which player is treated fairly and earns a moderate call.

If baseball utilizes replay more regularly, the average no-call would be corrected as most would be reversed and ruled out, while others would indicate that he outran the late throw, advancing to first base safely without needing to guess whether he made it safely or fell short of beating the out.

Maybe this is something Selig could consider to lessen the incompatible observations, mangling the beauty of baseball.

Between the episodes of steroids battering the league and instant replay expansions, the majors have a greater dilemma, currently taking away the gratifying aspects of possible no-hitters, perfect games, or even worst a probable win.

For all the plights, this may either inflict Selig to endorse and adore the availability of review booths and big screen televisions, which provides evidence in subsequently rescinding an implausible call, akin to the horrendous call that Joyce presumed was the right call.

In what was a disastrous judgment, it delayed a historic milestone and stopped Galarraga’s perfect outing on the mound.

He wasn’t sagacious in a regular-season event, but instead was obtuse in realizing he cost Galarraga a chance to engrave a page in the history book, all because a call wasn’t reversed in the expense of his relentless location and command on the mound to secure a 3-0 win.

In contrast, other leagues accept the availability of technology that has taken over the modern age.

But it’s obvious that Mr. Selig is comfortable with constituting his own rules and still lives in the old school days.

In other words, he likes having it his way. If he wanted, he’ll be a suitable CEO in running Burger King, a fast food corporation in which he could have it his way.

If he wishes to reestablish credibility within a battered league or attract a large audience to once again be intrigued to a commonplace sport, then in relation to the other leagues, he needs to insert instant replay and modernize the game.

Long ago, the NFL instituted instant replay after lingering debates caused much hysteria, eventually grasping a clear understanding that human error sabotaged fate as a majority of the calls were ruled as indisputable evidence.

What? That’s similar to what the majors are confronting, doomed of all the unsure and botched errors.

Maybe one day, Selig will wake up and smell the steaming coffee.

But he hasn’t awakened from his long years of rest, still asleep on the job without waking up and realizing the league is affronting a terrible nightmare.

It’s obvious that he needs a wakeup call.

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