Bad Moon Rising

[jjb]

http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/news/story?id=5430469

OK, it looks like the managers can challenge everything except the strike zone.

Couple observations:

1: "Managers would be limited to one unsuccessful replay challenge in the first six innings, and one unsuccessful challenge in extra innings."

How are you going to know if the challenge is "unsuccessful", unless you challenge it? So, if you challenge a banger, it's upheld, (aka, "unsuccessful"), does that mean you can't challenge another call? What if that call would have been "sucessful"? and how ya gonna know unless they let you challenge it?

2: ""So we let them know this is just another tool to help them do their job," Little League president Stephen Keener said in a statement. "This retains not only the human element in the process, but the volunteer element."

Wow, this guy must work in Congress. What he means is that "I know you're doing this for free, and I know you're not a full-time MLB Umpire, but, since we make a ton of bucks at this, we're going to show your play in HD with 5 different angles in Super Slo-Mo, and overturn your call, while our "professional" commentators will screw up the rules and make it look like you don't know what you're doing.

Thanks for coming, here's a nice shirt for you."

...kinda makes you want to run right out there and work, don't it?...

[kcfan102]

Man. Why don't I just load the gun and shoot myself now.

[ukce1861]

Well, guess this pretty well takes care of 9.03©...

[jjb]

I don't work LL (and I rarely work unpaid), but I just can't see myself working under those conditions. There's pressure enough for those guys out there. Fans are now able to stream in the games on their I-pads in real time. All they have to do watch the replays, and holler out to the manager to challenge the call.

If nothing else, it'll give MLB an idea of what's involved. No matter what happens, somebody's gonna learn something this September.

[semper_fi_72]

WP believes in all volunteer umpires.

You can't get paid to work games, but WP can make all the money they want.

Now to thank them for their hard work and years of volunteering to get to the LLWS, they will embarrass them on National Television.

Why would anyone put themselves through that.

[LMSANS]

I thought it was about getting the call right.

[semper_fi_72]

I thought it was about getting the call right.

Yes.

But let the guys on the field do it.

Not some guy watching slow mo, HD replay.

Next thing is every team will have someone with a video cam wanting you to review calls.

[JaxRolo]

Yes.

But let the guys on the field do it.

Not some guy watching slow mo, HD replay.

Next thing is every team will have someone with a video cam wanting you to review calls.

+1 Can't agree with you more! :FIRE:

[carolinablue]

It is about getting the call right. That's why we study rules , go to clinics, work on positioning and in general spend countless hours trying to get it right but we are human and will always make mistakes. We will never be as good as cameras that have every angle all at once and can slow the play down to a snails pace and look at it over and over. If perfection is what they want, then they can have it, but when it's all said and done they are going to realize they have ruined the game of baseball. Then the very ones that started this crap will be pointing the finger at everyone else. I am very dissapointed in LL on this one, they have sold out.

[dumbdumb]

And that's why Keener gets the big bucks, all $295,000 per year, to make the big decisions. OK, I know all you compensation guys will chime in and say he is as underpaid for all his worldly responsibilities, as the volunteer umpires and their responsibilities that work for free.

[jjb]

Like I said, I don't have a dog in this hunt, and, to tell you the truth, if someone came to me last year and asked "would you like to show your stuff on ESPN"? I have to tell you, I'd seriously consider it. But my brother Marine is right: LL and ESPN are going to go out of their way to "showcase" the replay system, and, in the process, embarrass the crews out there doing the best they can. So, with that system in place, I'd have to pass.

[Umpire in Chief]

I wonder if anybody would turn down the opportunity because of replay and the fact that they will try to bury the umps at any chance they get.

But on the flip side they do give them a pass sometimes too. I think it was last year when I saw a game and there was a pitch way outside which was called a strike and the announcer said at this level umpires will reward the pitcher for hitting their mark.

[midmoump]

It ain't nothin' 'til I call it*

*only after the next play occurs thereby nullifying the coach's opportunity to challenge the umpire's decision.

Oh, THAT'S JUST AWESOME!! Where do I sign up for this horsesh*t?

Bill Klem is rolling in his grave.

[mstaylor]

I hate the idea of advancing replay but it will have no effect on embarrassing the umpires. ESPN is going to replay it fifty times anyway so the umpire is going to be embarrassed already. I am not disagreeing with the concept, just the result.