2010 MLB Season Discussion

[Conrad]

I read something last year that suggested a challenge system like football, except each manager gets 2 per game and no chance of recovering them or getting any extras. Couldn't slow the game down any more than having the managers go out to argue with the ump.

[Cephius]

I read something last year that suggested a challenge system like football, except each manager gets 2 per game and no chance of recovering them or getting any extras. Couldn't slow the game down any more than having the managers go out to argue with the ump.

Even if there were reviews, managers would still argue. Especially about the strike zone, which probably wouldn't be reviewable.

And in that same vein, it would take awhile to determine what is and is not able to be reviewed, and what happens if a call is overturned.

[Conrad]

Well consider that football challenges are relatively new (came out in 95 I think?), and when they introduced that there was a clear list of items that are and are not reviewable. I don't think it would be too difficult to come up with a set of rules and actions available for review upon which the MLB and player's union could both agree.

If any action is taken I don't expect it to come into effect until 2011 anyway, so if it's going to be introduced the discussions should begin now.

[Cephius]

I think it's a lot easier for football though, especially since the things they review are obvious and clear cut. If a catch is called incomplete but overturned, it's obvious where you should place the ball. There can be a lot of quirky situations in baseball, where even if the the rules are clearly defined it may not be obvious how to call the play.

Personally, I would review home run calls, safe or out at the bases (though, how would you rule the neighborhood play at 2nd base?), fan interference, and nothing else.

[Moss]

one of the few times me and my ESPN ways will ever wholeheartedly agree with Headspace. I'm pretty sure the Indians manager would use his challenge to keep the kid's perfect game. That and he'd look like a boss for doing so.

Maybe in a blowout, but in a 3 run game? Hell no. Bad calls go both ways.

[Kurp]

The problem with that is one play to the next happens fairly quickly in baseball, contrary to some people's beliefs. There isn't much time from a possibly botched trapped ball call or a close play at a base until the next pitch occurs, unless a manager comes out to argue.

edit: replied to an old post and missed discussion

[Headspace]

So they're seriously looking at overturning it.

[Cephius]

Yeah Selig is meeting about it, probably trying to make it look like he's doing something instead of sitting on his ass. Frankly I'd be shocked if he actually does the right thing. I bet he comes up with some lame "we're not going to change the call, but Armando will be honored for his remarkably pitched game"

[Conrad]

Personally, I would review home run calls, safe or out at the bases (though, how would you rule the neighborhood play at 2nd base?), fan interference, and nothing else.

I would agree with this. The ball is already in play for all of these instances so it wouldn't disrupt rhythm too much, and they're among the most disputed calls right now anyway. Anything to bring baseball into the 21st century, really.

[Kurp]

Personally, I would review home run calls, safe or out at the bases (though, how would you rule the neighborhood play at 2nd base?), fan interference, and nothing else.

I'd like to add catch/trap and foul/fair to that, but I don't think it's possible.

But, like mentioned earlier, even if a foul/fair call was overturned, where do you put the base runners? You'd need another rule set. Catch/trap is in the same boat unfortunately.

Even safe/out on the bases would have oddities such as one base runner crossing home very close to the time where another is making the third out.

[Melena]

Well Fay Vincent as commisioner wiped out a bunch of No Hitters well after the fact, so there is precedent. Just in the reverse.

[Cephius]

Well Fay Vincent as commisioner wiped out a bunch of No Hitters well after the fact, so there is precedent. Just in the reverse.

He didn't actually change any calls though. He simply changed the definition of a "no hitter" to be a game in which a pitcher throws 9 complete innings without allowing a hit. So all the guys who threw a no hitter for 8 innings and lost (a more common occurrence than you might think) lost credit for pitching a no-hitter.

[Headspace]

Baseball traditionalist are worse than fucking neocons with their slippery slope arguments

[Eticket]

Sorry, but fuck that dude. He blew it so hard even the runner didn't know what the fuck.

Probably didn't care until he walked off the field and someone showed him the replay. The worst of all this is Selig will just sit in his office and drool on himself deciding if it's worth ruffling the feathers of old people over tradition.

He knew it as soon as he saw the replay.

It's fucked up but he made a mistake. It happens. If it had happened in the 3rd no one would give a shit. It's not like he wanted to fuck the guy over. He's had a good career and is consistently considered one of the best umps by players.

If you actually heard the interview you'd know he feels worse about this than anyone. It's a fucked up situation all around.

[Alderaan]

For being such a great ump, he should have known that with a perfect game at stake and 2 outs in the 9th, you don't call a runner safe even if it's a tie. Call it an unwritten rule or what ever, you just don't do that.

This is why no one i know even likes baseball anymore. Fuck getting the calls right and fixing problem, let's stick to tradition. If they really wanted to stick to tradition, we wouldn't have a watered down league with too many teams or the stupid DH rule.

[Eticket]

Joyce is behind home plate today. Leyland had Gallaraga walk out the lineup card.

[Melena]

Gallaraga has handled this with class though. Kudos to him.

[Eticket]

Yeah, great article on that note:

http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/06/0...-of-jim-joyce/

[Mugekuge]

Galarraga*!, could be first venezuelan with a perfect game and 4th no hitter.

[Moss]

People need to stop QQing and recognize the sportsmanship shown by everyone involved. This wasn't an example of an ump trying to show someone up, he just missed the call. If he thought the runner was out, that is what he is supposed to call, period. Fuck the perfect game noise. Frankly it ruins the luster of a perfect game if it is only achieved when every borderline call is going your way. People lose perspective and forget that the only thing that really matters is who wins and loses the game.