Boy am I glad they instituted instant replay in Major League Baseball.  Oh, you mean you didn't know they had instituted it?

It has been with little fanfare, for sure.  In fact, it took a week and 81 actual games for a home run to even be called into question.  MLB executive vice president of baseball operations, Jimmie Lee Solomon, called the execution "flawless."  I think my second question for him migth have been, "What the Hell kind of name is 'Jimmie Lee' for the executive vice president of baseball operations?"

From MLB.com:

We felt that we could get the play right or confirm it," Solomon said. "In this case, we are able to confirm that the play was called right. And we did it in a short period of time. We did not have a long delay in the game. In fact, we probably did it much faster than if both clubs were allowed to argue back and forth." 
 

Anyway, last night, A-Rod hit an apparent home run off Tampa Bay's Troy Percival in the ninth inning.  Because that's the kind of guy he is, Rays' manager Joe Maddon questioned the call and asked the crew chief ifinstant replay could be utilized.  Boy, what a difference a year makes.  A guy 's team suddenly goes from worst to first and he thinks he can muck up the whole system.

After a 2-minute, 15-second review process (where they watch both video feeds in New York and at the park), the call was upheld, the ball was ruled fair, the Yankees beat the Rays, 8-4, and there was much rejoicing.  In your face, Maddon.  Serves you right for managing in such a crummy ballpark.  Seriously, what was the over-under in the MLB offices that the first disputed call would be in the Trop, with all those stupid catwalks and crap everywhere?

Point is, it happened, and nobdy cared, except perhaps Joe maddon.  Football starts this weekend.  The kids are back to school, and the actual Instant Replay Era began a week ago.  It's old news now.  Maybe people will start paying attention when it actually means something, or when they start using it for more than just foul balls or home runs, like beating out a play at the plate, as was the case in the Sox/O's game on Tuesday.  Clearly, the dude was safe, and with the girly throw that Jane Ellsbury made, he should have been called safe on principle.  but, Tek blocked the plate well and the ump missed it, and the threat ended and the Sox pounded the O's into the dirt.  And there was much rejoicing.

Maybe this is just the tip of the iceberg for MLB instant replay, and one day we will be seeing it for more close calls, and those fat umps will care even less than they do now about getting it right, but for now, does anyone besides Jimmie Lee Solomon really care?