Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in last pre-Instant Replay series

           I can’t think of an endeavor on this earth more influenced by perception, than that of a major league baseball umpire.

A strike in baseball is a very clearly defined thing. The ball has to pass over the plate at a height between the knees and uniform letters. When a ball passes through that very precise set of parameters, a strike is a fact. The decision that goes up on the scoreboard, however, is based on the umpire’s opinion.

We’re usually subjected, whether through viewing the game or highlights, to instances in which they get it wrong. Proponents of instant replay will display these snippets of video as evidence for the need of electronics to invade the field

 I’m not entirely opposed to the idea. I’ve often wondered, after viewing a lot of bad calls and a few really bad calls, why, in this day and age, it isn’t possible to set up some sort of live electronic grid over home plate that would identify a strike. Precisely. Correctly. And more importantly, without the influence of an umpire’s perception.

Perception is not the same thing as sensation. What the umpire senses, with his eyes, is no more complicated than a data stream; a series of images, transmitted to the brain, telling Umpire X that the ball did, or did not, cross through the strike zone. There is, of course, the possibility that ol’ X was out on the town last night, and his eyes may not be as keen to go to work as his contract demands. Or, say the eyes are just fine, and it’s the way that the messages are getting back to the brain that’s a problem. Either way, it’s easy to see how environmental issues (eyes, brain, ball) can influence perception.

Then, too, there are social issues that enter into it. Ever see a pitcher blow his stack over a bad call and see the strike zone narrow down to the width of his belt? Ever see a pitcher talk reasonably about a call he had questions about and watch him get an immediate strike, no matter where the pitch was.

Perception. . .an umpire is susceptible to outside influences that are inevitable and some that can perhaps be controlled. I’m sure that if an umpire develops an ‘attitude’ about a player, pitcher or batter, that strongly influences his calls, it’d be noticed. Certainly by the pitcher or batter, but if it’s as obvious as all that, others are going to notice, too and there are mechanisms to correct that kind of problem. I’m told the umpires have to stand on an empty field with only bread and water for three days.

The point is: This perception issue dissolves with the advent of instant replay. You be the judge. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Do we prefer the cold calculus of an empirical truth or the random humanity of a man just doing his job?

When I’m rooting for my beloved Red Sox, I get to see instances of umpire error. They work on both sides of the field. Balls and strikes, infield plays, foul balls or homers, which, in case you hadn’t heard, is where instant replay will begin, starting on Thursday (for series that start on Thursday; will not influence Sox/Yankees on Thursday). Sometimes a lousy call goes in our favor. Sometimes a good call works to the advantage of our opponents. Sometimes, we get treated to instant replay anyway, which can either support our own idea of what happened or confirm our long-held suspicion that umpires, in general, are either blind as bats, or just plain incompetent.

As Major League Baseball examines how and in what set of circumstances to employ instant replay and the umpires quiver in their “are we going to be out of a job” cleats, some consideration should be given to both sides of the equation. Set up the electronic grid – initial cost and upkeep wouldn’t be all that much – but keep the umpires. Allow each team a certain number of challenges. And please. . .manager signals umpire, umpire signals replay room, replay room clicks back that the machine said “strike”, signals umpire, call is made; 20 seconds, tops.

Keep the human. The machine might actually train him to be a better umpire. Imagine umpire training camps that employed that electronic grid over the strike zone.

Keep the machine (for the sake of argument, let’s assume they actually have one). Let it do its job. We humans can create the damn thing. Let’s use it. It doesn’t get hangovers or develop attitudes about players. And it gets it right every time.

           The video camera is about to end the era of perception calls when it comes to home runs. Was it foul? Was it fair? Did it hit the petunias on the right field fence? Did that jerk that spilled his 16-ounce beer all over the lady in front of him scrambling for the ball, actually touch that ball. It can only improve things and believe me, there are a lot of umpires appreciative of the fact that the camera’s going to take the full burden off him. Better to be wrong and admit it to fans, than stubbornly stick to a bad call and have them on your ass all season.

Final note here. This current series may well be the last time the Red Sox will ever play in the original Yankee Stadium. They played against the Yankees to open the Stadium in 1923. I'm not investing a lot of nostalgic energy into the idea since the possibility of future meetings during the playoffs is alive and well and living in the Northeast corridor between the Big Apple and Beantown. Look for playoff announcers to make it something of a big deal if and when the two teams do get together in October.