When I was a kid, I became a fan of almost every type of competitive sport.  Maybe competition is in my nature.  Who knows.  However, the one thing that I had hammered on constantly in Major League baseball is the use of instant replay.  The NFL has been using their replay system since 1986, though the current system began in 1999.  This is to create a sort of checks and balances between officials and blown and/or errant calls.  Keeps it fair, no?
I would never color me a fan of MLB Commissioner Bud Selig.  He has a track record of decisions I and many others do not agree with, instant replay being one of them.  So MLB relies on human umpires (who look like they should be collecting social security) to go ahead and trust their instincts to make fair and correct decisions on the field of play.  Let’s be clear.  There are six of these “experts” in postseason play and four during the regular season.  Two are outfield umpires, two are first and third baseline umpires, an umpire at second, and the home plate umpire.
I can’t help but place a microscope so hot on these guys.  The more games I watch, the more missed calls I see.  I can’t give them too much flak—there are 162 games per season and they do an outstanding job.  However, who checks them for missing calls?  There is an official grievance process, but it takes the MLB commissioner to overturn anything.  You are more likely to find a real leprechaun.  MLB also uses their primitive and limited replay system for home run calls but not bang-bang plays at the bases, foul lines, or missed ball/strike calls.  Makes a huge difference in a game.
To the point: Starting game one of the 2011 World Series, Fox and MLB in their infinite wisdom tried to promote a fancy new technology ad nauseam.  No, it wasn’t FoxTrax, it was a thermal imaging viewer that really made MLB and Fox both look like fools.  This technology illuminates “hot spots” on a grey viewing area that tells the viewer where spots have generated friction or heat.  Pretty cool right? Well, not exactly.  In the ninth inning of that game, Rangers Third Baseman Adrian Beltre hit a foul down the third base line off of his foot.  Fox showed the replay and told on themselves as Beltre had protested that foul call.  Why use it if everyone but the umpires watch the replay and clearly saw the ball hit off his left toe?   Never mind a botched call down the first base line that allowed Cardinals Right Fielder Lance Berkman knock a two run double which was clearly foul.  Why replay and prove the umpires wrong if baseball won’t use it?  Am I reaching anybody? Who knows what the outcome of that game could have been if that call were reversed. However Cardinals closer Jason Motte closed the game to a 3-2 victory.
So the lesson learned here is, don’t use things that will make you look bad.  It looks neat, sounds neat so it must be neat right? C’mon guys.  Use it or lose it.  Thanks for reading.