What if there was a computer, or a monitor making the calls? Do you wait for the call to be made from the pressbox before you try to make a play at the plate? What if the defense doesn’t try for a play at home because they thought they already ended the inning, and the runner at second scores.

Honestly, if you think the objective is to always get the call right you are mostly correct. The true objective is to let the star athletes put on a show for its fan base. If a close call gets fudged every so often, yes it can be frustrating, but is getting it right every time worth ruining the show.

Technology is a tool but it’s the wrong tool for the job. Its like, trying to used a screwdriver to saw a log. it just doesn’t work that way.

Also, if you think baseball fans are tame then you owe your local team’s ballpark security for removing dangerous fans. They do their best to see that the well behaved fans don’t have their outings spoiled.

end of rant about people who call other people stupid (that’s unprofessional) and do some research.

In addition, the mere fact that some blown calls dont have an impact on the outcome of the game, season, championship doesnt mitigate the need to make sure calls are correct. If we can help umpires get teh call right more often, why wouldnt we? How are people supposed to know when a particular blown call affects the game? In fact, once a call is made incorrectly, it affects teh game and no one has anyway of knowing whether the “true” outcome is the one that the players would have come to.

No one cares about umpires. They are near antiquated. it’s quite clear they are asked to do a job that is incredibly difficult. In any profession, getting help is welcomed, not seen as a hindrance. Do firefighters not want to use technology because that’s the way it is always done and sometimes it might not save more people? Of course a baseball game does equal firefighting, but in no instance do other professions fight against technology and help. This is just so bizarre, i dont understand how people would deny themselves help…

Also, your comment made no sense.

You are right, though, that “[r]ules (in every aspect of society) are put in place for a reason.” It’s just that those reasons are not always good ones. Just so here.

Until changes are made, they might as well be carnies.

“The Red Sox received a call from the commissioner’s office complaining that the video board at Fenway Park replayed a controversial umpire’s decision during Saturday’s game. As a rule, teams are instructed not to replay close calls, for fear that it might incite the crowd … The umpires are believed to have lodged a complaint between innings to MLB, which subsequently contacted the Red Sox.”

Okay, the Red Sox received a call. From the Commissioner’s office complaining about the video.
Okay, the umpires are believed to have filed a grievance which led to the phone call.

And?

What happened? Will the Red Sox be fined? Will they be required to fire the techie who loaded the replay into the machinery, or the one who ordered it to be shown?

I think it is just about protocol. The umps complained. BFD. So MLB had to react. I sincerely doubt anything else will happen.

For the privilege of doing so, I was showered with curses from children, doused with sodas and beer, and spit on. All abuse directed towards the umpires and experienced by staff because they made the correct call.

But yeah, let’s go ahead and call the umpires a bunch of pussies for acutally wanting the basic human protection most people receive in day-to-day life.

For a bunch of fucking idiots who have never been at field level during a game, you guys make a lot of assumptions about things you don’t know.

But yeah, lets go ahead and adovcate violence against umpires just because they’re doing their jobs. While we’re at it, why not go ahead and let glass bottles back in the stands so they can be thrown at the umpires. Better yet, let’s pull all the security off the field so the fans can run onto the field and physically attack the umpires when they disagree with a call.

You guys won’t be satisified until an umpire gets killed again, because that will satisify your self-righteous atttiude about how much better you are than the guys actually making an effort. A death on the field will go a long ways towards showing them just how bad they are.

And don’t give me shit about over-reacting. If you don’t want to provide them the basic protection they deserve, then you’re advocating violence and hate against them. Rules (in every aspect of society) are put in place for a reason, usually for the safety of someone, and not just to provide ignorant people a reason to have a hissy fit.

I was watching the game. They got the call right. But let’s go ahead and incite violence because it satisifes some exaggerated sense of entitlement to complain about everything.

I could not have said it better myself!

(and didn’t)

I would add that for the past 5 seasons, the Celtics have been replaying nearly every close call (and some no-calls) at TD Bank Garden on the HD video boards, sometimes twice and sometimes in super slo-mo.

And despite some really heinous calls and a symphony of boos unlike that of any in sports . . . no riots yet. I know, hard to believe. But it’s true.

Also true . . . sometimes the refs have even been vindicated.