Rumors
Here Comes Instant Replay
It appears as if we are really going to have some sort of instant replay in baseball and most likely by the end of the regular season. This is good news for the pennant races and the playoffs. Those pesky balls bouncing off foul polls can now be called correctly.
There is not set timetable on when the instant replay will go into effect, but the equipment is already being installed in stadiums and the details of how the replay is to be used are being ironed out, as they say.
The most likely use will be on foul vs. fair balls and on whether or not the ball actually goes over the fence. I hope there is something in place to consider fan interference. Ask Moises Alou, there is nothing worse that some little snotty kid reaching his grubby little hands (or glove) over the fence to take the ball out of your glove.
I would be for extending instant replay to plays at the bags, or at least plays at the plate. I see so many missed calls around the bags; it would be nice if they could get those right as well, especially when we are talking about a play at the plate that means a run. Those plays at the plate are hard calls to make because of the collisions and the out of the baseline slides.
I’m not trying to say that the umps do a bad job; I am simply saying that these are tough calls to make, and it wouldn’t hurt to have some backup on those important calls.
Some people say instant replay will slow down the game, but we all know that is ridiculous; just take a look at football and basketball. Besides, if there is one game in which they don’t care about slowing down, its baseball.
I do wonder how the managers are going to eventually take this, especially guys like “Sweet” Lou Piniella and Bobby Cox. Are they really going to argue over an instant replay call? They will, seemingly, have less to argue over. They may actually go into some sort of strange withdraw. I don’t know if I would like a sweeter, kinder Lou.
Sheffield Should Just Shut-Up
Just when you thought Gary Sheffield had just gotten over his tendency to run his mouth, he proves that he can still tick off his manager and organization. Sheffield opened his mouth to complain about having to DH and taking a seat on the bench every so often.
I think Gary is forgetting that he is in the major leagues and that guys who can’t get the ball back into the infield, don’t need to be playing in the outfield. I also suppose he is forgetting that guys who are hitting .222 with only 10 home runs and 33 RBI aren’t exactly guaranteed to have a spot in the lineup each and every night.
According to Leyland, Sheffield was told before coming to Detroit that he would be the DH. Sheffield was promised nothing more than to play DH for a contender and hit in the middle of a stacked lineup offering him protection. Sheffield promised he would hit well enough to earn his $14 million. It appears to me that only one side lived up to its bargain. Of course, you could say that the Tigers are not really contending anymore this season.
Sheffield has a long history of speaking his mind, which is fine, except when you say stupid things to tick off those that sign your paycheck. Most teams have overlooked his occasional outbursts because he was still a beast with the bat. The bat isn’t there anymore and this recent stupid thing has reportedly put him on the waiver wires. A just-in report claims that Sheffield has been put on waivers by the Tigers.
Now this doesn’t necessarily mean that what Sheffield said is the reason for him being on waivers. I mean the guy is not producing, but the complaining surely didn’t help.
Another just-in report; as I am writing this Sheffield has just hit his 2nd home run of the night. Talk about timing.
Regardless of the two dingers Sheffield just hit, his mouth and salary make him too expensive for the production he gives. If he thinks that old timer Jim Leyland is going to deal with him pouting and not knocking in runs, then Sheffy has a rude awakening coming.
