The Balk 5-28-08

The Counselor is IN:

Over the last couple of weeks, we have seen a few really bad homerun calls. Some are called homeruns that are not and others are called foul that are home runs. Some of these calls are changing the outcome of games. These calls could cause a team to miss the playoffs. How many divisional races and wild card races have come down to the last couple of games? If you can put in a form of replay for close homerun calls, then why not do it? MLB is talking about instituting this form of replay in the fall league as a test.

Baseball has been very slow to experiment with replay. I know several hard core baseball fans that are completely opposed to replay in baseball even when the call goes against their team. These fanatics usually discuss the tradition of the game and pace of the game. They also fear MLB using replay to call balls and strikes.

Here are my points back at these loyal lovers of the game. Firstly, the pace of baseball is already slow and laid back. This is not a bad thing. It makes for a relaxing day at the ball park. Taking time for a former umpire to check the monitor and to make a call will not slow it down much at all.

Secondly, you can easily limit what you will replay. The NFL has been successful in limiting what is reviewable for a long time. Tennis is using replay in a limited fashion very effectively.

Thirdly, let us talk about tradition of the game. How traditional do you really want to go? Should we go back to the days before the wild card where the only the winners of the two divisions in each league makes the playoffs? How about going back to a 9 game World Series? How about removing the bases and putting poles in their places (poles were common instead of bases in the late 1800s). Traditionalists usually want things to remain as they were when they were kids but the 1970s have come and gone.

Fantasy Advice:
A few weeks ago, I reminded owners not to dump their studs that were off to a slow start. Now it is time to examine those big names and see what they are doing 2 months into the season. Here are a few previously productive fantasy players that are not producing. You may want to consider trading or dropping these players at this time.

Tigers- OF Gary Sheffield is batting .213 with 3 homers, 12 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases. Age may have caught up with Gary.

Cubs- OF Jim Edmonds is only batting .167 with 1 homer, 6 RBIs, and 2 stolen bases. Talking about getting old, Jim looks like he is done. He should have retired as a Cardinal at the end of last year.

Reds- OF Corey Patterson is hitting .200 with 4 homers, 16 RBIs, and 8 stolen bases. Corey is still stealing bases so you may want to keep him but his batting average will kill you if he does not start hitting batter.

Pirates - 1B/3B Doug Mientkiewicz is hitting .207 with 1 homer, 8 RBI's and 0 stolen bases. Doug used to bring limited power but great batting average. Now he does not even bring that.

The Counselor is OUT: