RJ says yes

Major League Baseball needs to employ video replay like OJ Simpson needed to employ Johnnie Cochran. Both would certainly meet the death penalty without a solid advocate.

For some wildly stupid reason, MLB commissioner Bud Selig has not adopted a rule change that would allow for solid video replay to enhance the game. There is nothing wrong with having a fail-safe for the abundance of human error in umpiring a baseball game.

If such a rule had been implemented prior to the start of the 2010 season, perhaps Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga’s June 3 perfect game would be in the books like Roy Halladay’s May 29 perfect game. Surely, MLB umpire Jim Joyce would be all for video replay in baseball.

Umpires have been notoriously bad at their jobs this season. This is even truer in the playoffs.

Putting some protocol in place that allows for umpires to consult video evidence rather than just each other takes much of the onus off of them to be perfect every time they make one of thousands of judgment calls over the course of a 162 game season.

The NFL and NBA have already adopted video replay and proved it works. Touchdowns, baskets, penalties and fouls that would have otherwise changed the momentum and — ultimately — the outcome of games now have a chance to be corrected.

There are several arguments against video replay in baseball such as, “How do you correct balls and strike calls?” Or, “It would impede the fluidity of the game.” Or, “It goes against the purity of the game.”

The first two arguments can be fixed with trial and error. The third is not a valid argument at all.

“Purity of the game” means honoring the game. How can MLB honor the game if it does not try to get every call right? Come on, Selig, do the right thing. Cover your umpires’ behinds.

MJ says no

When the National League was founded in 1876, baseball didn’t use instant reply. Instead, only the two eyes of an umpire were used to make game-altering decisions.

And that’s exactly how it should be.

For 132 years, until 2008, instant replay has been considered un-American considering the historic past of our country’s most prestigious game. Then, at that time, partial instant replay access was allowed to umpires for home run calls, but commissioner Bud Selig ruled out increased replay for this season’s playoffs. And he couldn’t have made a better decision.

According to Selig, the umpires' 98 percent of controversial calls are correct.

Sure, Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga lost a potential perfect game in the regular season because of a bad call, but the Tigers still won that game. Yeah, maybe Rangers infielder Michael Young didn’t tag Jason Bartlett at third, which prevented the Rays from scoring a run in game five of the ALDS, but as I recall, the Rays lost by four so that run really wouldn’t have mattered. That’s what makes the game fun. This is a team sport, and all that matters is that a team gets a victory. No team loses a game over a bad call.

As far as I’m concerned, umpires never lose a team their game — the players and coaches do. People are going to make mistakes; that’s part of the game and life entirely. With that aside, Selig — and baseball fans worldwide alike — believe instant replay only delays a game that is already one of the slowest sports known to man. And as my close friend said, “Baseball is the most boring sport with a ball.” Instant replay would only add to the boredom.

“Baseball is a game of pace, and there’s no question it’s a game of pace. And therefore one has to be very sensitive,” Selig said.

Instant replay goes with baseball like peanut butter and tuna fish or cowboys and Indians.

Keep being American, America.