Get a Clue, Bud

"To ask a pitcher to stand out there for 2 or 3 minutes (while a play is being reviewed) ... I really, overall, I just don't like the use of instant replay." That was the eloquent MLB Commissioner Bud Selig on PTI this afternoon when asked whether he is a proponent of instant replay in baseball.

Selig points to the Holliday play as a reason not to have replay. You can't conclusively say that Holliday didn't get in and just barely get the plate. You definitely can't say he definitively touched it either. I'll give it to Bud on that one, that was my take. I think the best angle to see whether or not he was safe was the angle the umpire had (from behind the catcher). The one from 3rd base is inconclusive and the one perpendicular to Holliday is also inconclusive. But, Bud, you can't look at one play and say "Replay wouldn't have helped, so we don't need it." That's an illogical argument that lacks the perspective you want from the person running your league.

Oh ... then, after pressure, he said "In the quiet of winter, (replay) is something I'm going to think about."

Selig stated that he doesn't want the pitcher to have to wait 2 or 3 minutes for a replay. The commish doesn't seem all that worried about the pitchers having to wait 2 or 3 (or more) minutes while managers come out to contest calls. In the time it takes for the managers to get out of the dugout, have their say, and slog back to the dugout, a replay official could take a look at a play and make the best call possible. Sure, you won't get them all right, but you have a better shot at getting it right looking at a bunch of different angles in slow motion than you do looking at one angle in real-time. Nothing against the umpires, it's just the way things work.

Woody Paige, who often comes up with off-the-wall ideas, had a reasonable idea for replay in baseball. Rather than have the managers waste time arguing calls (how often are calls reversed?), they can challenge 3 calls per game. I don't know if 3 is the right number. Personally, I think if you are right, you should be able to keep challenging ... no reason to get screwed on bad calls. But, you do have to set limits so managers don't abuse the privilege.

A reasonable system may be:
- three challenges per team
- if you are right two out of three, you earn a 4th
- you can continue to challenge indefinitely as long as you are right

Replay could be used for a number of things but, as I noted in a previous post, there really aren't that many plays that would need to be reviewed/challenged. The potential plays would include:
- whether or not a fly ball cleared the fence for a HR
- fair or foul (home runs and balls still in the field of play)
- close force outs
- tag plays (like the Holliday play in the SD v. CO game)
- catch vs. trap
- leaving early after tagging up (if they could get the replays sync'd up)

Plays that wouldn't be subject to challenge would be:
- balls and strikes (although I'd love to see an entirely automated system used - could save a lot of wear and tear on umpires)
- infield fly rule
- running out of the baseline
- balks (actually, I could go either way on this one)

Personally, I don't see a downside to a challenge/replay system. If Selig is worried about pitchers waiting a couple minutes, he can institute a "no arguing" policy. If a manager (or player, for that matter) delays the game to argue a call, the umpire should immediately eject said person. The punishment for ejections starts at a 1 game suspension and increases 1 additional game for each ejection. This would probably be unnecessary ... I just don't see replay being needed enough to make a big time difference. But, perhaps Selig would like to further limit visits to the mound by pitching coaches, as they too force pitchers to take a short break in the middle of an inning. Rain delays, can we do something about them, as well. And, is there any way we can limit pitcher changes by the opposition ... those increase the time a pitcher spends on the bench between innings.

P.S. Selig also said "We handled it just the way we should" when asked about the home run chase.