A topic of many discussions, it seems like MLB is on the verge of instituting a system that will properly identify home run balls and foul balls

SCOTT JACOBS

“That ball is hit hard, it’s hit deep, that ball is… out of here?”

You will never hear an announcer say that, but the way some balls have been hit, and the way some calls have been missed, it’s about damn time that MLB decided that for the good of the game, baseball needs instant replay.

The details of the new system have yet to be ironed out, and all the kinks are going to get worked out before they give it the green light at a MLB ball park near you. But the light at the end of this controversial tunnel is finally starting to peek it’s head out.

“Turn right at optimistic road, make a left on why did this take so long street. Your destination is straight ahead.”

With baseball finally prepping its ball parks for GASP! more 21st century technology (traditionalists be damned!) the sport is finally showing it is more important to get the call right, even if it takes another minute or so.

For perfectionists, your day has not yet come. MLB has no intention of using replay to review close plays at the plate or even strikes or balls. Not that they probably ever considered it, but could you imagine a strike that ends a game reversed? Yeah, baseball wants no part of that. What they do want is to get home run calls right.

I had thought that putting two MLB officials next to the two foul poles in both right and left field would have done the trick, afterall that would take like 30 MLB employees, which would seem like nothing. But either that idea was never tossed around, or MLB is nervous about one guy along the line determining a big play. Either way, MLB has gotten it right. We think.

What I’m a little baffled by is that there won’t be replay for close plays along the first and third base lines. Baseball should have that too. But this is certainly a start, and while everyone would have liked to see this in place at the start of the year, getting it in before the pennant races catch fire is a big deal.

No word yet on when the replay will be officially put into play, but baseball first needs the player’s union and umpires association to agree before anything happens. Logic says they will (the world would be stunned if they didn’t) and by then we should be on the verge of a pure sport getting a little help from a digital friend.

Speaking of those pennant races…

I will probably elaborate on this more during a longer uncut post, but here’s my take on the wild races going on in baseball.

They’re great. I think. To be honest, I’m not sure. The NL West is only tight because both teams can barely stay above .500. They’re not playing good baseball (not overall at least) and that makes for a good race between mediocre teams.

Same with the NL East. No one can separate themselves. The Phillies have been terrible lately, dropping three straight in LA, blowing a big 6-1 lead last night and now they’re tied with the Mets. When you look up horrific bullpen lately the Mets show up, because of their inability to close tight games out with injured Billy Wagner. The Marlins, despite the fact that they haven’t had a winning streak of more then four in forever are still just a game and a half back. Granted, the East is better then the West, but I think both races will remain close, because frankly I don’t any of those teams have proven to be that special.

The Twins and White Sox are just exchanging first back and forth in what has become the race few expected. I saw the division being a great race, but between the Tigers and Indians. Not the Sox and the Pair of Kids.

Finally, while the AL East is still a race, I am beginning to believe the Rays will prevail. Here’s the difference between the Rays and other teams: they don’t rely on that one star. So even though Crawford is great and Longoria has been phenomenal, the Rays still continue to win. Their pitching is steady, their bullpen is solid, and they get a lot of walk off wins. Scared under pressure? I don’t see it right now with Tampa Bay.

And a special thanks to the Angels who are going to make me right on my pick that they’d win 100 games this year. Finally, I got something right!

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