Bud Selig doesn’t specifically address changing last night’s call concerning the Armando Galarraga wasn’t a perfect game, but given that he hasn’t, it’s not going to happen. Official scorers have a time limit on changes, and I have to assume Bud does as well.
As Jim Joyce said in his postgame comments, there is no dispute that last night’s game should have ended differently. While the human element has always been an integral part of baseball, it is vital that mistakes on the field be addressed. Given last night’s call and other recent events, I will examine our umpiring system, the expanded use of instant replay and all other related features. Before I announce any decisions, I will consult with all appropriate parties, including our two unions and the Special Committee for On-Field Matters, which consists of field managers, general managers, club owners and presidents.
I bet we end up with expanded replay.
Classic Bud. Took him 18 hours to disgorge a statement that says exactly nothing.
@jvwalt: Outstanding use of “disgorge.”
I bet we end up with more replay, too. Bud isn’t one to stand pat in a situation that calls for panic. More thoughts on this: Whatever replay system evolves has to be within the confines of the stadium. Otherwise, you’ll get the specter of quick pitching to obviate the possibility of a replay (like we have in football, where a team rushes to the line to snap and spike before there is a chance to challenge or review–it is difficult for me to express how aggravating I find this, when play on the field is influenced by factors utterly off the field; I don’t want to see that happen to baseball). Imagine the specter of an outfielder who traps a ball that is called caught giving a pre-arranged signal (right hand to the brim) for a quick pitch. In addition, what if whatever communication system develops between the remote review site and the field breaks down? Then it’s all for naught. This is another problem, DP; you said before that umpires are always going to argue close calls anyway, so there is no real loss of gametime. But, since (according to my argument) the review has to happen in the stadium, this will give managers greater incentive to argue calls, leading to more argued calls (since not every–in fact, very few–argued calls will lead to changed calls), greater interruptions, and even longer games.
All you need is one umpire watching every play on a monitor in the stadium. Give him and the crew chief earpieces. The review ump can let the crew chief know when a call needs to be looked at or overturned. Fair/foul, Home runs, safe/out calls. These things take literally seconds to decide in a replay most of the time. If it isn’t obvious, stick to the call on the field. Managers don’t need to be able to challenge a play.
Obviously, changing the umpiring system to minimize the impact of bad calls is something requiring discussion. Overturning this call could have been done simply and quickly with 0 effect other than changing the outcome of 2 AB and giving Gallaraga and Joyce justice and relief.
For 18 million dollars a year, Bud should be able to have made the right call. He didn’t. Maybe he should be an umpire. Of course, he would be taking a pay cut
Only good could result from reversing Joyce’s call. The batter can’t complain about losing a hit, because he was out.
As for expanded replay, give each side one challenge per game, and also give the umpires the authority to review any play they feel they should.
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