Atlanta Braves: The MLB Replay System is Frustrating and a Waste of Time
By Kit Anderson
The Atlanta Braves were yet again on the receiving end of a bad umpiring call. It was a call they challenged and should have won giving another example of how useless the replay system truly is.
Last night’s game was a tough one for the Atlanta Braves. They lost thanks to their lack of an elite closer and the umpire’s inability to make the right calls. Despite his shortcomings, the Braves made use of their challenges and were still robbed.
The MLB replay system isn’t a popular addition in baseball, but not for the reasons you may think. Baseball fans want nothing to change and the game to remain the same. While that is part of the reason they are losing their young audience it makes sense, when watching the debacle that is instant replay.
Last night after a key run was called out the Braves used their challenge. It didn’t take an expert watching to know the right call, he was safe. Was it close? Yes, but he was safe nonetheless.
Replay finished reviewing the play and called him out based on lack of “clear and convincing evidence” a phrase I have grown to hate. Replays are proving to be more and more useless with each passing game.
This isn’t based on simply one call but the many calls replay is missing because they don’t want to reverse a wrong decision. If you are unwilling to make a close call, why do you have replay?
Sure occasionally umpires will miss a blatantly obvious call but for the most part, they get the obvious calls right. If replay is not to overturn the close hard to see in real time plays, what is it for?
The answer is to frustrate fans and players and delay baseball games. Instant replay is not an upgrade to the game. It has slowed it down and made it even more frustrating.
If baseball wishes to continue to use the replay system they must make upgrades this off-season. If not there is no reason to have a system incapable of making the close calls. We would be better off with the decision only in the hands of the umpire.
Instant replay has to change if baseball hopes to keep it in place. It is a laughable system causing nothing but delays and frustration for baseball fans.