Orioles manager Dave Trembley will need a second look at instant replay.
“I find it very strange that they would pick, with 30 games to go in the season, that they would start it now,” Trembley said. “Number one, if they wanted it so bad what took them so long to get it going and why wait until this particular point in time? I think they fudged on it because they originally said they were going to do it in the Arizona Fall League.”
Major League Baseball’s replay system is designed to help umpires make correct calls on whether a home run actually leaves the park and is fair or foul. Fan interference on foul balls can also be reviewed.
In the event of instant replay being necessary, the umpires working the game will have access to the $2.5 million system to check the call. MLB estimates each reviewed call will take about two minutes and 30 seconds, but since being instituted on Aug. 28, no call has been double-checked.
“I would say that they better be sure that they’ve got the kinks worked out,” said Trembley. “Otherwise, they are going to set themselves up for some embarrassing situations that could possibly occur.”
Trembley also has an alternative.
“Why didn’t they just hire two more umpires,” he suggested. “Put six guys out there like they do in the playoffs and World Series. I don’t get it. Instant replay, I guess if they can move into new Yankee Stadium, they can have instant replay. The game is evolving, much to my chagrin.”
