Butterfly Effect

Recently, I've been seeing adds for a 2nd Butterfly Effect movie. I thought the first one was pretty good ... Ashton Kutcher surprised me with the fact that he is actually a solid actor, given the correct role. What does this have to do with sports? The movie, not so much. The butterfly effect, a little more. I lobbied for certain rules governing bad calls in college football games. At some point, though, you have to just allow bad calls to be a part of any sport. But, if we limit the bad calls, we limit the potential alteration of the outcome due to the bad calls.

The idea is that a bad call in the 1st inning of a baseball game can change everything that occurs from then on out. There isn't a set amount of time that elapses during baseball play, unlike in football or basketball. In baseball, even if you're down 18 with 2 outs left in the 9th, you have a shot. The chances of a comeback are slim, but not none, even if it has never happened. So, in baseball, anything can happen. That is why baseball needs replay and a computerized ball/strike program.

I don't know how accurate the technology is that shows the relationship between the pitch and the strike zone. But, I think the potential is there for the system to revolutionize balls and strikes in MLB. Calibrate it and validate it in every park. Keep umps there in case it fails, but use the technology, it's far superior to the human umpires for calling balls and strikes, just as the tennis system is superior to the line judges. Use the technology for what it is good at. I'm pretty good at math, but I don't run through seemingly endless computations when I can set up a computer model to do it for me. It's common sense. Develop the technology and make sure it works, then use it! Measure each of the players before each season to set up the vertical criteria for the strike zone and then let the technology do its magic.

There aren't that many close calls in baseball. Use replay for home runs. Use replay for foul balls (let the play go if it's close). There was a ball that knocked up chalk in the playoffs that was ruled foul. It landed between the 3rd base ump and the ump down the left field line. How did they get it wrong? Why are they allowed to get it wrong? Have someone upstairs reviewing every play. Take a couple looks at the close ones and get them right! At least give it a try. What is the harm in seeing if it would work in spring training?