Major League Baseball is currently trying to implement a new replay system in games that will include challenges.
For the most part, coaches may now be able to argue plays without the screaming and the yelling by simply using a challenge.
The new rules would give many new school fans what they’ve wanted, more replay. Old school fans may be more on the disappointed side of things.
So what will this do for the league itself? The truth of the matter is umpires will get much more calls correct—something baseball needs. However, a portion of the culture of Major League Baseball may change forever.
The Umpire defines a lot of what makes baseball, well, baseball. The dramatic strike three calls. The loud yelling of “He’s Out!!” on a close play at home. Their position as the verbal punching bag for managers if they aren’t being fair in the strike zone or completely missed a play at first base. (Most of which is followed by a emphatic tossing motion.) In a lot of sports analysts and talk show hosts talk about the human element when it comes to officiating. Currently baseball has the most of the “human element.”
With this rule change baseball is going to become weird. Will managers throw a flag like in football? Or will players point to the huge screen at the back of the field like the players point to the jumbo-tron in basketball?
Having challenges may take away the chance for a manager to “protect his guy” intentionally getting into an argument with the ump, or intentionally getting thrown out of a game to fire up his team.
The MLB needed more replay. The missed call which took away Armando Galarraga’s perfect game and the missed call which granted Johan Santana a no-hitter are examples of why more replay is needed. However, we must keep in mind that if these new rules go into effect the game won’t be the same.
