MLB

The MLB Chastised The Boston Red Sox For Entering The 21st Century

Baseball desperately needs more video replay, as we’ve seen multiple blown calls by umpires on bang-bang plays. And it’s going to continue to happen simply because some plays are just that damn close. In the bottom of the sixth during the first game of the Yankees-Red Sox doubleheader, David Ortiz was doubled off first on an Adrian Gonzalez fly ball. Teixeira leapt into the air to grab Andruw Jones’ errant throw, and it looked like he may have come off the base.

The Fenway Park scoreboard staff showed a replay, which seemingly confirmed that the right call was made. This didn’t sit well with Murray Chass-ian MLB brass, who sent a memo to the Red Sox indicating as such.

“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.”

Ah, yes, don’t incite the crowd. Bury the truth, instead. Oh and don’t look at the replay, because THE HUMAN ELEMENT. Seriously though, what the hell. Incite the crowd? Even real baseball players don’t fight: they clear the benches and see who can put whose face closest to whom, with some guys chit-chatting away during the fray.

And umps, really? Complaining? No, it’s better when you eject players and managers for being forced to argue a call you screwed up.

Baseball, no?

[ESPN, via Hardball Talk]

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