Fall of the Umpires

Instant replay is destroying sports.  There is no beating around the bush on this one.  I know that everyone wants to see the right calls, but it takes away the human element of the game.  Right now, the sports world is up in a tizzy over last night's Cleveland/New York game in which a Yankee outfielder dove into the stands and came up with his glove as if he had the ball for the final out of an inning.  The umpire called the out only to find out after the game that the player didn't have the ball and it ended up in the stands.  Two things needed to happen on that play.  The ump needed to check the player's glove for the ball.  He said it himself.  After the game, he admitted it.  The other thing that happened was the player should have been honest.  He acted like he made the catch, held his glove up, and ran into the dugout.  Two people are at fault because the smaller things didn't happen.  So because of this, there is major outcry for expanded replay.  There should be an outcry for players to be more honest, but that won't happen.

I like the human element of the officials in the sport.  It gives something for fans to rally against.  Everyone hates umpires/refs.  Their calls give fans something to argue about.  And yes, instant replay can quell arguments, but isn't that what sports is all about?  Imagine if the 'Immaculate Reception' never happened because it was overturned by instant replay.  That catch is on every highlight reel when it comes to great plays or crazy plays.  Harris had a Hall of Fame career regardless of that catch, but when you say his name, you think of that play.  A couple of years ago, you would not have found anyone screaming louder or with more expletives for instant replay when Jim Joyce blew the Armando Galarraga perfect game*.  After simmering down, I knew that if they had used instant replay would take away the umpires' credibility.  Another thing that allowed me get away from plotting the demise of Joyce was the professionalism of all parties involved.  Galarraga especially.  I may get chastised by other Tigers fans, but I am a fan of the sport as well.  Not just a team.  

I know most everyone would have agreed with the overturning of that particular call if they had used instant replay, but what about those who want the human element to stay in the game?  The human element is part of the game.  Instant replay is a slippery slope.  Eventually the home plate ump is going to be replaced by a machine that calls balls and strikes.  We already have it with different television stations having their strike zones or K zones they show on each pitch.  What's to stop Major League Baseball from implementing that technology into the game?  They can just have a mini strike zone screen that the players can see to keep track of the count.  There won't be anymore 'painting the corner' for pitches.  No more home calls.  No more different size strike zones from ump to ump.

The umpires give us a reason to really watch the game.  They give us a reason to yell at the television in a drunken rage.  Umpires and refs are the supporting cast to the game.  There aren't many times you will find me siding with the establishment, but this is one of those times.