an outside view

Imagine the picture if you will. The Atlanta Braves ore playing he New York Mets in a pivotal late season divisional game. The game is tied in the bottom of the ninth inning but the Tomahawk Gang has loaded the bases with two outs. The drama mounts as Chipper Jones steps to the plate.

Fans scream for a walk off homerun. A long blast would be magical and would send the Braves’ faithful to Underground Atlanta in a partying mood. But a long ball is not in the cards, at least not on this night. Instead, the Braves’ elder statesman hits a slot roller down the third base line. The third baseman charges, bare-hands the ball and fires off balance to first just as Jones arrives. A slight hesitation by the umpire who then holds up his right thumb signifying Jones is out.

Jones screams at the umpire and points to the Braves’ dugout. First base coach Glenn Hubbard emphatically gives the safe sign and looks over his shoulder at the dugout. We don’t see Braves’ skipper Bobby Cox charging the field. The cap won’t come off and he won’t be kicking dirt on the umpire’s shoes. Instead, we see a little red flag fly out of the dugout. Cox is challenging the call. He wants the umps to take a look at the instant replay.

The umpire chief acknowledges the protest. He heads to a spot along the first base line where a pair of headphones is hanging. He puts them on and has a conversation with the replay umpire in the press box. After what seems like an eternity, the headphones come off and the umpire steps away, reaches to his waist to turn on his wireless microphone, and announces to the fans, “After further review there is convincing evidence that the runner beat the throw to first base and is therefore safe. The ruling on the field is reversed.” Braves win! Braves win!

It’s enough to make Abner Doubleday roll over in his grave but it could be reality sooner than later. Major League Baseball has voted to experiment with the technology that has become an integral part of the game of football. Tennis is now using it and we see it used on a limited basis in basketball. We may see it in baseball as soon as the fall league in Arizona.

The motivation for such a drastic move is obvious. With so much riding these days on the outcome of baseball contests, the game has a duty to make sure umpires get it right. A blown call can alter the record books forever not to mention cost a city, a franchise, or even the players millions of dollars. Fans are more accustomed to technology and most polls suggest they are ready for the national pastime to get with the times.

Traditionalists, on the other hand, are already starting to holler. “They are messing with the sanctity of the game,” they protest.  “They will ruin baseball forever.” Never mind that they said the same thing about night baseball, lowering the pitcher’s mound, the designated hitter, divisional play, and wild card teams in the playoffs. Baseball purists are like good old Republicans. They don’t like change – even good change.

I’m not normally a middle of the road kind of guy but on this one I sort of agree with both sides. I want baseball to get it right. I’m still fuming over Don Denkinger’s blown call in the 1985 World Series that cost my beloved St. Louis Cardinals the championship. If instant replays will prevent such embarrassments to the game, then the idea has some merit.

But the game will lose a bit of its entertainment value for me. When I plop down $40 or $50 to see a big league game, I am hoping to see a good ole rhubarb. If I want to watch a gentleman’s game I’ll watch golf. Okay, I’m not that desperate but I love to see a manager so close to the umpire’s face that the man in blue can tell what the skipper had for lunch. It’s beautiful to see him throw his hat on the ground and kick the dirt. And what’s better than seeing the guy ejected and sent to the showers early? That’s the one advantage baseball has over the other sports. We replace that excitement with a little red flag flying out of the dugout?

My concern is for the well-being of the managers. How’s a guy to vent his frustrations? Kicking the dog or yelling at the wife don’t seem like good alternatives. Baseball managers will be like Hollywood actors. Everyone will be going to therapy.  Oh well, someone has to pay for progress.