Expanded use of instant replay in Major League Baseball has become one of the most controversial issues in the sports world over the past couple of years. On Aug. 28, 2008, the first form of replay was implemented, allowing borderline home run calls to be reviewed by umpires. The replay can be used to decide if the ball went fair or foul, if the ball left the field of play and if a fan interfered with the ball. Here’s what two Pipe Dream Sports Editors think of the expanded use of replay in baseball:

Justin Tasch said ‘

‘Many traditionalists weren’t comfortable with the idea of using instant replay in baseball, saying that the human element is taken out of the game. I, however, am in complete favor of replay and endorse its expansion in the sport. Following Jim Joyce’s blunder during what should have been Armando Galarraga’s perfect game, I don’t see how baseball can afford to constrict themselves. Umpires are human and make mistakes and this year, more than ever, missed calls have been prevalent throughout the league. Replay needs to be expanded to review safe or out calls, whether a base runner missed a base, pretty much everything except balls and strikes. To prevent abuse of replay, a challenge system similar to the National Football League should be used so the game isn’t drawn out by instant replays. If replay is being used in the Little League World Series, why shouldn’t it be used in the MLB? The calls need to be correct, and instant replay will go a long way in making sure justice is served.’

Justin Mathew said ‘

‘Baseball has always been a game known for allowing human judgment. To me, in baseball, part of the strategy is adjusting to the biases of the umpires. All players know who has a big or small strike zone, and AOL Fanhouse reported in May that teams were compiling scouting reports on umps. Baseball is a game of adjustments ‘ pitchers adjust to how they’re throwing that day, hitters adjust to the type of pitches they’re seeing. Stadiums are called big or small, hitter-friendly or pitcher-friendly. Do we ever complain that a team lost because of these inconsistencies? Error in umpiring is the same way; it comes with the nature of the game. I can understand fair or foul home run calls, because we don’t have umpires way up in the stands. But for fair and foul on the field, or safe/out calls, the umpire is right on top of the play. I’m fine with an incentive system that rewards umpires for doing a good job, but to expand instant replay would take away from the beauty of the game. Umpires actually do a really good job, despite highly publicized errors. Run hard, work hard and play hard on every play, and 99 times out of 100 you’ll find that calls go your way.’