There are quite a few people out there who will tell you that the only reason MLB finally decided to implement the use of replay in it's games this season is because there were a few bad calls in New York. Had their been a rash of missed calls in a couple of Royals games, nobody would have cared, and it never would have happened.While there's probably some truth behind those feelings, I highly doubt they were the only reasons baseball finally woke up and joined the 21st century, but it is fitting that the very first use of the new replay system involved Alex Rodriguez and the Yankees.
Tropicana Field hosted history on Wednesday night, when instant replay was used for the first time in Major League history.Dioner Navarro and Rays manager Joe Maddon both argued that the ball was foul, and after a brief talk amongst themselves, the umpires decided to break the replay cherry. Two minutes and fifteen seconds later they emerged with the news that they were right, the ball was fair.
Alex Rodriguez hit a 2-2 pitch from Rays closer Troy Percival high over the foul pole in left in the ninth inning and, to add to the confusion, the ball ricocheted off the D-ring catwalk. Third-base umpire Brian Runge ruled the ball fair.
The game went on, Tropicana Field did not self destruct, and the sun came up this morning.
