The Human Element

Once again, “the human element” has reared its ugly head in Major League Baseball. Last night, the Wild Card race leading Atlanta Braves beat the then-first place Pittsburgh Pirates at home, 4-3, in a 19 inning pitching battle. The game ended when Julio Lugo of the Braves slid home.

SAFE! 1

The rest of the world saw Pirates catcher Michael McKenry standing in front of home plate and sweeping a tag on Lugo, five feet from home plate. Home plate umpire Jerry Meals called Lugo “safe” and the game was over. Twitter exploded with commentary about the call immediately, dubbed the “worst call ever” by many fans and media members alike, including the victorious Atlanta Braves' play-by-play radio broadcaster. The call conjured memories of last year, when first base umpire Jim Joyce, by his own admission, incorrectly called Jason Donald of the Cleveland Indians safe with two outs in the ninth inning of what would have otherwise been a perfect game pitched by Armando Galarraga of the Detroit Tigers.

SAFE! 2

Both of these horrific calls could have been quickly corrected by the use of expanded instant replay in Major League Baseball. Bud Selig has fought tooth and nail to restrict the use of replay to helping settle questionable calls involving possible home runs. Selig has frequently said that the “human element” of the game is part of baseball’s appeal.

Really, Mr. Selig? It does not appeal to me. It did not appeal to Joyce or Galarraga, a year ago. It did not appeal to the Pittsburgh Pirates or their fans, last night. And I don’t think the Braves got the warm and fuzzies by having a 19 inning marathon decided in their favor on such a grossly erroneous call. Sure, every athlete wants to win the game, but there is much less satisfaction in victory when the game is handed to you because of a mistake by someone not involved in actually playing the game. I do not see a whole lot of this “human element appeal”.

STEE-RIKE THREE! YOU'RE OUT!! 3

I will continue to make Bud Selig “Public enemy #1” at The Daily Hat Trick until he finally retires, as expected, after next season. Selig is fighting tooth and nail to keep this great game in the 20th century and is often kicking and screaming when any kind of progress in implemented in baseball. He lacks vision. He lacks a connection with fans, especially younger fans. His decisions do not make much sense if his goal is to expand interest in and better market the game of baseball.

Selig could soften my stance on his performance as Commissioner by expanding instant reply. Then again, I doubt he cares what I think, and, fortunately, American sports fans will care much less about what Selig thinks in 15 months.

Winners or losers, Mr. Commissioner? 4

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1) Image from usatoday.com
2) Image from wikipedia.org
3) Image from picturesdepot.com
4) Image from blakestreetbulletin.com