The “integrity” of the game has already been compromised by a decades-long steroid scandal (with respect to which baseball has taken some measure of corective action) In 1988, the rules on balks were changed such that it was much easier for a balk to be called (the rules were changed back to what they had been, by the next season). In 2002, another rule was changed when the All-Star Game for that year ended in a tie. Commissioner Selig decided virtually on the spot that summer that from now on, an incentive would be given to the team who won the All-Star game: the League that won the game would get home field advantage in the World Series (talk about an irrational solution to a non-problem). And yes, as you noted, we now have instant replay for home run calls.

In each instance, a rule has been changed (or changed back). Some of the changes are for the better, some are for the worse, some have not measurably affected the game. But the fact these changes had to be instituted shows that baseball is not a brand-new pristine sport never touched by scandal, controversy or confusion. In short, it is not, pardon the phrase, a perfect game. Its integrity is only as good as the integrity of those who play the game and make the calls, and all of these people are just human.

Also, being that we are just human, we gradually accept change – sometimes graciously, sometimes resentfully, sometimes in passing. But life goes on. The American League uses a Designated Hitter. Baseball survived. Home runs are now reviewed. The game has survived. Every change thought to bring about the world has simply brought… another tomorrow, another game. Life goes on.

This particular call should not be reversed (if it were, though, again, the universe would not cease to exist; in the Olympics, there are precedents for literally going back in time and changing the results – such as in the 2002 Winter Games Figure Skating Pairs competition – no “rule” there explicitly allowed for the awarding of a tie, but none prohibited it – just as is the case with the facts of this perfect game).

Who, exactly, would be harmed by the introduction of instant replay? Would it slow down a game? Sure, but anyone who has watched a Yankees-Red Sox game recently knows that games are already much longer than they used to be, what with additional commercials, pitchers taking more time between pitchers. If extending the length of a game is a problem, find a way to speed it up, for example, by only allowing a pitcher to throw back to first to prevent a runner from stealing so many times per at-bat, or by limiting the number of time-outs a pitcher or batter can ask for. Big deal. “Integrity” (which I define as making sure the players on both teams are subject to the same rules, of which they have awareness, and which are fair and applied consistently) will not be compromised.

As Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. once said, “a page of history is worth a volume of logic.” Baseball already “despoiled its northern woods,” so to speak, by allowing for replay in select instances a few years ago. Naturally, as noted above the world did not come to an end. It will not with the use of instant replay either. If anything, allowing the use of instant replay might reduce the number of brawls (which, by the way, slow down the length of a game) and might even serve as a learning tool to make umpires more concscientious. Isn’t that a goal we can all agree is worthwhile?

To sum up, quoting Homles again, “It is revolting to have no better reason for a rule of law than that so it was laid down in the time of Henry IV. It is still more revolting if the grounds upon which it was laid down have vanished long since, or the rule simply persists from blind imitation of the past.”

I came across this blog, by Joe Posnanski: http://joeposnanski.si.com/2010/06/02/the-lesson-of-jim-joyce/#more-3517

Here is sentence or two, where he discusses the effect that a blown call had on another umpire:

“Of course, as a baseball fan, I will never forget Joyce’s blown call — just as baseball fans will never forget Don Denkinger’s missed call during the 1985 World Series. I have spoken at length with Don about that missed call — sat with him at his home in Arizona and listened to him relive the pain of being wrong, the fury of people who called his home and threatened him, the sadness of having a long and successful baseball career defined by one mistake made in the heat of the moment when America was watching. “The call,” he told me, “never quite goes away.” So it goes for Jim Joyce and a safe call that should have been out.”

It sounds horrible. Joyce knew he made a mistake. He apologized to Galarraga (which was apparently a scene of the utmost respect and politeness – kudos to them both). But even though everyone knows it was the wrong call, it can’t be undone…? There isn’t a review process? And now Joyce will undoubtedly get threats and feel terrible for what’s happened, all because he made a mistake? I don’t watch baseball–or any sports at all, in fact–but I have a hard time wrapping my head around this.

I agree 100% that instituting an instant replay policy needs to happen. I’m tired of seeing incorrect calls, not to mention the resulting shouting matches with umpires.

What a crock of fookin shite! This from the same guy who ended an All-Star game in a tie.