There are some who still champion the subjectivity of human umpires. They resist the incorporation of replay into Major League Baseball, citing the fact that close calls and missed calls are part of the fabric of the game.
Among the topics that might full under this argument are the strike zone and the famous “neighborhood play” when middle infielders turn double plays (see the above picture of Stephen Drew – Austin Jackson was called out on the play).
Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reports tonight that the neighborhood play will not be reviewed as part of the proposed replay system.
Development in replay talks: At request of MLBPA, source says "neighborhood play" at 2B on double plays likely will NOT be reviewable.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
Manager can challenge flat-out missed catch -- Kozma at World Series -- but not timing of when player caught ball while coming across bag.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
Reason, obviously, is injury risk. Players do not want to hang in there at 2B and sustain career-ending knee injury.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
While I am not the fan of false notions of “tradition” simply because baseball never changes, this makes sense. This particular play happens so often in the context of turning a double play and it’s hard to tell anyway. It really would be hairy if it could be reviewed, so I think the MLBPA has got this right.
Morosi explained why he agrees:
I agree with union here: To make that reviewable would change how game is played. "Close enough" is an out on that play. It just is.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
And in that moment, Morosi presented a go-to argument for baseball traditionalists.
It just is.