Challenge for MLB: keep replay simple
The Yanks' nightmare performance in the ALCS might be something New Yorkers wish to quickly forget, but perhaps some good can come of it after all. The bad call at second base on Robinson Cano's tag on Omar Infante in Game 2 of this series caused Joe Girardi to flip-flop his opinion about replay reviews and place the issue front and center once again. Sooner or later, even the most stolid major league owners will be moved to do something. It needn't be a shocking upheaval.
Unchecked, replay reviews can become dreary, time-consuming distractions. But the NFL and organizers of major tennis events have shown that these replays are very effective tools when used in moderation. The key is the challenge system. There must be a strict limit on the number of reviews, or else these things drag on forever. Baseball, more than any other sport in America, already has a severe time problem. Nobody wants four-hour, Yankee-Red Sox games to go 4 hours and 20 minutes.
A reasonable system can be tested during televised spring training games: Each manager is awarded one challenge, which must be lodged before the next pitch is thrown. If he is correct with his challenge, he retains the right to challenge again. Simple enough, and that should end almost all the
time-consuming arguments between managers and umpires. No reviews can be permitted on subjective calls such as checked ed swings or called balls and strikes. The e other terrible call in this postseason, the e infield fly ruling in the Braves-Cards wild d card game, could not have been reversed d by challenge.
There may be some ome necessary fine-tuning, ing, and the rare automatic atic review that does not t require a challenge. Controversial homers should ould be reviewed, as they are now. The last play of f the game, if decided on a close call, should also be reviewed automatically. Perfect games mes must not be ruined by a wrong call at first base with two outs in the ninth, just because a manager has used up his only chalhallenge. Also, there must be a stiff curb on any stalling tactics by batters or pitchers, who are giving their managers longer to decide cide whether to challenge a call.
Having proposed all this, it must be pointointed out that the Yankees would have been soundly trounced by the Tigers regardless ss of any challenge system or reversal of the Cano call. Everyone should have learned anew new that an offense relying almost exclusively y on the home run is not built for the postseason. son. There's no need for a replay review of f the 2012 regular season.