You Can Thank Joe Torre for Helping to Keep MLB Behind the Times

You can stick Joe Torre in the same category as Bud Selig and Sepp Blather when it comes to advancing the game using instant replay. And that’s not a good thing.

Torre, who opposed the use of instant replay as a manager, feels the same way in his role as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations for MLB.

“I have heard many discussions on umpiring and technology over the past two years, including both the pros and the cons of expanding replay,” Torre said in statement.

“However, most in the game recognize that the human element always will be part of baseball and instant replay can never replace all judgment calls by umpires. Obviously, a play like this is going to spark a lot of conversation, and we will continue to consider all viewpoints in our ongoing discussions regarding officiating in baseball.”

Look Joe, adding more replay doesn’t mean we’re completely eliminating the human element. Nobody is saying we need George Jetson’s robot nanny calling balls and strikes. But there’s no reason why umpires shouldn’t be able to use replay on close plays at the bag, especially for plays like the Braves-Pirates one last week.

We argued in 2007, 2008 and last year during Armando Galarraga’s perfect game that baseball needs expanded replay. We even set out guidelines for how and when instant replay should be used. See Joe? You don’t even have to use your brain for this one — we already did all the thinking for you!

Just get your head out of your butts and expand the use of instant replay. It won’t hurt the game; it will improve it.