The joy of yelling at the umpires in baseball for getting a call wrong could be gone. Some of you might enjoy the happiness of the right call, depending on which team you are cheering for.
This is because Major League Baseball is considering using instant replay cameras in the sport for the first time. These cameras can help determine whether balls are fair or foul, homeruns, or just a double off the top of the wall. It can also show whether fans interfere with the ball.
A friend of mine said that fans are part of the field, so it is not their fault for being in the way.
Umpires and general managers are getting together and discussing the instant replay position. According to an article by ESPN News, the replay camera was voted in by 25-5. Now the umpires want to put in their say.
Five general managers – Dan O’Dowd of the Rockies, Josh Byrnes of the Diamondbacks, Jim Bowden of the Nationals, John Mozeliak of the Cardinals and Billy Beane of the A’s – were in charge of the recommendation, according to ESPN News.
I think these cameras could make a big difference in the game. These are supposed to speed up the game and save a lot of time spent arguing.
Although, with looking at the camera every time a ball goes out of the infield, the game is slowed down even more. I talked to a friend about this, since he watches baseball, and he said that the coaches should be able to challenge calls like the NFL.
I think this is a good idea, but I’m still not sure. This is a new idea for the game and people need time to think it over.
According to the Associated Press, umpires are discussing hiring another umpire for the replay cameras.
“First, it’s kind of premature to have an official position,” Lamell McMorris, a spokesman for the World Umpires Association, told the AP. “We’re aware of the vote that took place in Orlando.
“We fully anticipate at the appropriate time we’ll have discussions with Major League Baseball. I think it’s natural that those who officiate baseball would be included in the discussions. We’re the ones that are going to have to implement its usage, equipment and otherwise.”
The more I read about this, the more I am torn with bringing it in.
I think it will help decide those really tough calls that the umpires are too far away to see, but I don’t want to stay up until midnight because umpires are going to spend time looking every single ball that heads down the first- or third-base line.
Mike Celizic writes that tradition is the reason that baseball has held out so long on the replay.
He also said that the replay officials make mistakes, too, so the human element is not completely taken out of the picture.
I agree with him on that. Making sure each play is correct is great, but mistakes can happen.
When I brought this topic up with many of my friends who watch baseball, they all think thought it would be an interesting idea.
One friend who doesn’t watch the game said that the game is going to be even more boring now.
Even tennis is using the cameras to judge whether a ball is in or not.
I cannot forget watching John McEnroe yelling or throwing a fit at the chair judge because he thought the ball was in. The classic racquet-throwing is burned into my brain forever.
Now with the cameras any sport can take a second look at a call and make sure that they have it correct. I think it will be interesting to see how the fans take to this.

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