Umpires Refuse to Be Shown Up by Modern Technology

Major league umpires have always been overly sensitive about being embarrassed. Take for instance the unwritten rule on complaining about balls and strikes: batters are generally allowed to say whatever they want while at the plate so long as they don't "show up" the umpire by (gasp!) actually turning to look at him. If they commit that egregious sin, they risk an early shower.

Not surprisingly, there are plenty of written rules about now showing up the umpire, as well -- and they apply to the stadium workers just as much as the players and managers. Have you ever noticed how it's impossible to catch a replay of a close play on the stadium video display?

That's because the folks in the video control room are under strict orders not to show anything controversial. Phil Miller of the Pioneer Press explains:

During a Metrodome game last season, the team's game-operations staff played a replay of a play that didn't strike them as close – but they didn't notice in time that the other team's manager had come out to argue.

Baseball noticed. The Twins received a written reprimand from major-league headquarters – but avoided a fine, general manager Bill Smith said – for their slip-up.

In MLB's defense, they're not the only league to have this rule, but it seems even more silly now that baseball has finally adopted instant replay. If you've already decided to stop the game to review a play, why should the paying customers be the only people watching the game who can't get another look?

The umpires can watch a play to correct their call, the players in the dugout can retreat to the clubhouse to watch on TV, and all the fans at home -- you know, the ones who didn't decide to invest an entire evening and a couple of hundred bucks in tickets, food and parking -- are treated with slow-motion replays from every angle until play resumes. Only the people who made the mistake thinking it'd be more fun to watch the game in person than on TV are left in the dark.

If it's a really bad call (or even just a questionable one that shifted the momentum of the game) everybody's going to find out eventually, so why delay the inevitable?