Man vs. Machine

Recently, the Detroit Tigers' Armando Gallaraga got robbed of a perfect game. This would have marked 3 perfect games in one month, when previous to this season, no more than one perfect game had occurred in one season. However, for Gallaraga, it wasn't all bad. After he handled the situation unbelievably well, presenting the lineup card to umpire Jim Joyce the next game (not without tears from Joyce), he was presented a Corvette for his sportsmanship in handling the situation. And, of course, the blown call revived the need for Commissioner Selig's best friend: replay.

Replay was introduced to baseball through replays only on controversial home runs last season, and was used sparingly. However, when it was used, it seemed to cause a lengthy delay with the umpires all going to look at a replay it seemed in the next town over. They did eventually make the right call, every time. Now, baseball critics are calling for extended usage of this thing we call replay. Here is what I think they should do:

Replay should be instated for only the 9th inning and beyond. In situations that can decide the game in these innings, it will be very good to have for a close play. Even though a blown call in the 7th could decide the game just as easily, it will again ease the MLB into expanded replay use. Also, replay officials should be located in an air-conditioned booth with high-definition tv's, and should have a time limit of 2 minutes to make the call. They should then proceed to announce the call themselves on the loudspeaker.

From here, the MLB could decide how to expand without making the umpires into robots, or simply putting them in a booth. In my closing remark about replay, how does tennis have such a good replay system? In a matter of seconds after a challenge is called, the automated replay of the ball's arc will show on the screen, mark where the ball lands, and flip up the ruling. Why can't all replay systems be like this? College football is closest to this, with their booth officials making the right call 91% of the time, and with a time limit of 2 minutes.

As for you, Commissioner, the key to replay is not a matter of man being overtaken by machine, but rather man being complimented by machine. If you can understand that, I'm sure we will have extended replay in baseball next year.