Over the course of the past couple of years, it has been almost insane how many games have been changed or influenced by incorrect calls by the umpires. Whether it was the obvious tag play in the Cardinals/ Rangers WS game the other day where he was ruled safe or Armando Gallaraga's perfect game that was ruined by a missed call at first base, incorrect calls seem to be getting more attention than ever before. Fans, players, coaches alike just want the game to be called correctly and fairly. Though there has been no suggestion that umpires are not playing the game on a level, their integrity has been questioned over the past couple of years.
Instant replay has been introduced over the past several years allowing the umpires to get a video review of whether a ball is a homerun or in play or if it is a homerun or foul ball. Many have suggested that instant replay be expanded to include out/ safe calls, whether a ball in the outfied is caught or not and some have even suggested that instant replay be used for ball strike calls.
First of all, the strikezone is established by the home plate umpire. It has always been understood that different umpires have a different interpretation of the strikezone and will call pitches differently. So replay should and will never be used for balls and strikes.
Most importantly the umpires are here to call a game fairly and correctly. We all understand that because of the human element, every call is not going to always be correct. I personally don't think replay should be expanded. I am in favor in the umpires working together to make sure they get as many calls right as possible. Even if it means an umpire that gets a better view of a call overrules the umpire that is closer to the play. Even if it means more meetings of the umpires.
I understand the umpires do not have the easiest job to do. But they MUST be held accountable. Rather than expand replay, the umpires that continuously make mistakes doing their job need to be reprimanded and eventually disciplined and in some cases terminated. An umpire that makes one mistake should not lose his job. But, when you have umpires like Doug Eddings, Greg Gibson, Angel Hernandez and others who are missing calls on a continuous basis, there has to be some accountablity. Major League Baseball oversees the contriversal calls and has to keep some kind of log of "repeat offenders." These umpires need to have the same accountability as the players do. If a player doesn't get the job done, he doesn't play or a team gets rid of him. The same should be true for the umpires. I'm sure there are umpires at lower levels that would jump on the opportunity to just call a game correctly. If an umpire continuously makes the wrong calls, GET RID OF HIM!
Instant replay has been introduced over the past several years allowing the umpires to get a video review of whether a ball is a homerun or in play or if it is a homerun or foul ball. Many have suggested that instant replay be expanded to include out/ safe calls, whether a ball in the outfied is caught or not and some have even suggested that instant replay be used for ball strike calls.
First of all, the strikezone is established by the home plate umpire. It has always been understood that different umpires have a different interpretation of the strikezone and will call pitches differently. So replay should and will never be used for balls and strikes.
Most importantly the umpires are here to call a game fairly and correctly. We all understand that because of the human element, every call is not going to always be correct. I personally don't think replay should be expanded. I am in favor in the umpires working together to make sure they get as many calls right as possible. Even if it means an umpire that gets a better view of a call overrules the umpire that is closer to the play. Even if it means more meetings of the umpires.
I understand the umpires do not have the easiest job to do. But they MUST be held accountable. Rather than expand replay, the umpires that continuously make mistakes doing their job need to be reprimanded and eventually disciplined and in some cases terminated. An umpire that makes one mistake should not lose his job. But, when you have umpires like Doug Eddings, Greg Gibson, Angel Hernandez and others who are missing calls on a continuous basis, there has to be some accountablity. Major League Baseball oversees the contriversal calls and has to keep some kind of log of "repeat offenders." These umpires need to have the same accountability as the players do. If a player doesn't get the job done, he doesn't play or a team gets rid of him. The same should be true for the umpires. I'm sure there are umpires at lower levels that would jump on the opportunity to just call a game correctly. If an umpire continuously makes the wrong calls, GET RID OF HIM!
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