Instant Replay

I have been a pretty big fan of the MLBNetwork channel since its inception. While ESPN is talking about Tiger Woods being an asshole or gun charges for Gilbert Arenas, I can instead put on something that provides actual information and entertainment. On a sidenote, I love the fact that the MLBNetwork was able to coax Peter Gammons, basically baseball's prophet, away from ESPN. No more five minutes clips for you Mr. Gammons.
I also love the fact that I won't always agree with what the MLBNetwork has to say. That is due in part to the wide variety of retired players, writers, and analysts that inhabit the studio. Sometimes I love what Al Leiter says, sometimes he's an idiot. Usually Bill Ripken annoys the hell out of me, but other times he makes great points. And that's one of the reasons I love the programming.
Last night, however, was probably the first time I felt a little angry at what one commentator said. The commentator was infamous wildman pitcher Mitch Williams. Now I have no problem with Mitch Williams. In fact when I was a kid, the only way I could remember that my doctor's last name was Williams, was to think that his first name was Mitch. But last night Mr. Williams tried to reason an argument for the extension of instant replay into calls of fair and foul.
While I agree with Mitch's assessment that fair and foul calls are crucial to the game and need to be called accurately, he then said that calls at the bases should stay within the confines of the umpire's judgement. Am I mistaken, or is Mitch saying that a fair or fall call down the line is more important than calling a runner safe at first?
Even if that's not Mr. Williams point, he brought up an unwinnable argument when it comes to instant replay and baseball. That is, 'When is instant replay OK, and when isn't it?' Now I don't suggest that I have the answers, but I do know that Mr. Williams opened up a can of worms when he made his statements. The idea of using instant replay at all, in some people's minds', is anti-baseball. Baseball is a game of human judgement. What the umpires call, should stand, some say. When instant replay was brought in last year on a more permanent basis, it was relegated to homerun calls. This was a concession to baseball purists because it technically kept instant replay off the field (i.e. the ball would be leaving the playing field during a homerun), and that quelled some fears.
But to bring instant replay down onto the field and impact the game in a more microscopic way, begs trouble. If fair and foul should be part of the instant replay gambit, then why not base-running calls, or fielding plays such as an outfielder trapping a ball in his glove instead of catching it. This is my problem with what Mitch Williams said. If you open instant replay up past homerun calls, then where does it stop. Some may say that even allowing homerun calls to be replayed has ruined the sanctity of the game. Like I said before, I don't have the answers, but if things continue down this path, I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years baseball managers have a little red flag in their pocket like in football. Maybe they could challenge three calls a game, or maybe nine to make it more baseball like. But then how do you keep the game moving with challenges? Another problem with instant replay. And another suggestion from Mr. Williams that catcher visits to the mound be regulated. Again, this is invading the playing field. Now baseball would be determining what players can and can't do on the field to make defensive preparations. Where does it stop? Who's to say how long you can visit a mound, and with what frequency? Will baseball then overrule the 'shift' defense or say outfielders can't play too shallow?
Instant replay may work great for some sports. I think it was one of the best additions to football in the past 30 years. But baseball is different. Baseball has and probably should always be a game of human judgement and error. When you start meddling with that, you change the game. Maybe the committee Commissioner Bud Selig has set up will hash out these arguments and give baseball something wonderful that will improve the game. Or maybe it will just cause chaos, and longer games. Either way, one thing is certain. Instant replay, in any form, will never satisfy everyone. Someone will always complain about something. But that's kind of the beauty of baseball. It is a game of arguments and frustration. Managers are allowed to go out and argue with an ump over a missed call. And honestly, who doesn't love seeing a little dirt getting kicked once in a while?