Replay system needs tweaks
PITTSBURGH — Despite turning 50 earlier this year, I like to think I am still progressive in my thinking.
I like technology, gadgets and progress in general. I even like some of today’s popular music, though I have to give my wife at least partial credit for that.
When Major League Baseball announced at its general managers’ meeting in November that it was going to adopt a full-scale video replay system for this season, it got a big thumbs up from this corner. If the technology is in place, then use it to make the game better.
That being said, it would be easy to dislike replay after what happened Wednesday night at PNC Park. The Pirates beat the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in a game took 16 innings, a Pittsburgh-record five hours and 55 minutes and stretched to 12:54 on Thursday morning.
Hardly anyone was left in the ballpark by the time rookie catcher Tony Sanchez won the game with a pinch-hit RBI single.
Part of the reason the game stretched to other side of midnight was the deadlocked score. However, replay reviews also made the night longer. In all, umpires spent more than 10 minutes on the headsets back to Major League Baseball’s control center in New York.
The waiting was enough to make most everyone still remaining become irritable, including players, coaches — and sportswriters — who had to get up early the next morning for a 12:35 p.m. game.
People in the know at the MLB offices insist the replay reviews will be more efficient once everyone gets more acclimated to the procedures and equipment.
Here’s hoping it does, not only so the umpires make sure they get the calls correct, but to get everyone home by a reasonable hour.
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Pirates ownership is ham-handed in the way it handles many matters but one thing it does well is generate revenue. The Pirates got Coca-Cola to pay $1.8 million to have their products sold at PNC Park this season rather than Pepsi.
It would be nice if the Pirates took the extra pop money and put it toward obtaining a first baseman with some pop in his bat.
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From one paisan to another, congratulations are in order for Pirates closer Jason Grilli, who will be honored with the Man of the Year award Sunday by the Pittsburgh chapter of the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at its annual dinner.
Grilli is very deserving after helping the Pirates both post a winning record and reach the postseason last year for the first time since 1992 by converting 33 of 35 save opportunities while being selected to play in the All-Star Game.