Which Sport is Using Replacement Refs?
by Colin R. on Oct.21, 2009, under MLB
So I’m pretty sure that the NBA locked out its regular refs…but anyone who’s been watching the MLB Playoffs has to be wondering if Bud Selig surreptitiously ditched his normal officials too…
Let’s face it, baseball is played on an enormous field, and unlike football the action isn’t so easy to track – so things are going to be missed. Maybe it was this logic that kept everyone sane during the divisional matchups when we saw a rash of bad calls. But simple ’shit happens’ logic isn’t going to fly anymore, not after last night’s ALCS game. Sure, there were some standard blown calls, like the tag on Nick Swisher at second that was ruled safe, or maybe Nick Swisher’s leaving the bag early (thank god someone with bionic vision called that, because I couldn’t see it on the side-by-side replay…). But the big one is being referred to by some as the worst call ever.
Yeah, McClellan personally blew two calls in this game, and the massive debacle at 3rd in the top of the fifth was just a total disaster. I’m not talking unfortunate accident, like Chernobyl…I’m talking total, miserable disaster.
Tim McClelland's Fault? Don't Rule It Out... (Flickr/msvg CCL)
If you want the details of the debacle, click the link above and head over Big League Stew. While its loading, try to keep in mind that in baseball, you aren’t generally safe if you’re just hanging near a base…but I’m no expert.
So baseball purists who don’t think there’s room for the instant replay, it’s time to start wrapping your head around it now, because there’s never been such strong evidence of its need. Fighting instant replay is just delaying the inevitable and driving everyone mad because of nonsense like this.
October 21st, 2009 on 12:33 pm
Start talking about my beloved Yankees and I have to comment:
Saying this AS a Yankees fan, last night’s game left me going WTF multiple times. Swisher’s save, then out, and then this charlie foxtrot of a call- clearly, McClellan was doing his best impersonation of Helen Keller- I have to agree that replays would be useful. No, they don’t totally cancel out the chances of a bad call, but they certainly do lower the chances of a bad call standing. It certainly hasn’t hurt the NFL.
However, as long as Alex “What Hip Surgery?” Rodriguez continues to dominate on the bat, I have to agree with Sportcenter’s analysis this AM: those calls wouldn’t have done jack for the Angels, and so it’s not like they were gamechangers.
October 21st, 2009 on 12:36 pm
Agreed, the only reason that the story isn’t getting even more play is because the Angels got out of the 5th without damage and the Yankees had such a dominant win.
Had this game be close, the calls for instant replay would be screams.