Apparently baseball is not slow enough. The MLB is flirting with the idea of adding instant replay—experimenting with the upcoming Arizona Fall League.
According to a poll attached to the article, roughly 50% of readers would like replays “for all controversial calls” in baseball. Only 18% did not approve of any replays
First, I’m a bit surprised that so many fans, considering all the purity myths surrounding baseball, would condescend to such technological supplements to the game. It seems like a kind of epistemological performance enhancement—HGH for the eyes. I would venture to guess that 50% of espn.com readers do not approve of steroids.
I don’t really care about the instant replay, the so-called sanctity of the game, or steroids. And I don’t have any dystopian fears of the game’s increasing mediation. Our obsession with truth in these performances will probably ensure a steady increase in these kinds of technologies. I can’t remember where I read or dreamed this, but isn’t there talk of adding some kind of chip to footballs that will indicate whether the ball crossed the goal line, first down marker, etc.? I guess my beef is with the idea that folks ought to care about the “truth” of a play outside of the time and place in which it is performed. Officials, right or wrong, are key parts of any close play—they create its meaning. Second, bitching at officials is probably one of the most enjoyable parts of the game. Cursing the laws of physics is not nearly as fun as calling some fat ump’s mom a whore. Last, what happens when those inevitable plays come up when the instant replay cameras don’t give us a definitive picture of a play’s truth? Won’t this just come down to the same old fashioned judgments? Isn’t this how it works anyhow—officials huddle together around a monitor and make a judgment call in retrospect with a clearer—yet not absolute—view of the play?
The increased boringness that will result will allow networks more advertising time and stadiums more time to shill $9 beers. But if people have as short an attention span as me, this might be enough to wait for the highlights.
On the other hand, the replay could very well create a sense of drama and suspense in a sometimes pretty boring game.
It’s Our Birthday! « The Dwight Gooden Poster // May 23, 2009 at 3:42 pm
[...] year ago today, The Dwight Gooden Poster (TDGP) was birthed into this crazy world with a modest posting by Travis. Since then the guys (any women want to post on here??) have covered such topics as Erin [...]