Jonathan Davis

Comp 1
Essay #3
November 14, 2015
Baseball Replays
The most updated instant replay technology is allowing the umpires to make sure
they get the call correct. Major League Baseball began using instant replays in 2008
to review homeruns. In 2014 instant replay was expanded to include fair or foul calls,
catch or trap calls in the outfield or whether or not a batter swung. One of the big calls on
safe or out happened this year in the postseason game between the Houston Astros and the
Kansas City Royals when Terrance Gore the Kansas City pinch runner stole third base and was
originally called safe and after review he was ruled out. After the game Gore was interviewed
and said that without instant replays he was undoubtedly safe (Lee). Two of the biggest
missed calls in history was when, Don Denkingers call at first base robbed the St. Louis
Cardinals of the 1985 World Series or Jim Joyces missed call at first that foiled Armando
Galarragas perfect game in 2010 ( Witz). While there are many critics that want the game

to stay the way it has for the past hundred years, there are many benefits to the new
instant replay calls and those benefits are not only allowing the umpires to see the play
over again, but to let him see if he got the play right or wrong. It also allows the fans
watching the game to see it too, and it is adding a new strategy to the game as to when
the teams manager will use one of the guaranteed challenges.
Video replays are used for many different reasons. Video replay review in Major
League Baseball is designed to provide timely review of certain disputed calls in all
Championship Season, All-Star and Post-Season games played in the 30 Major League

ballparks(Replay Review). In 2014 instant replays were expanded to include

stadium boundary calls, force plays, tag plays, fair or foul in the outfield only, batter hit
by pitch, timing plays such as a runner scoring before the third out, touching a base,
passing runners, and record keeping and Major League

Baseball
clubs unanimously approved the expansion of instant replays(MLB Clubs). No other
plays can be reviewed with instant replays, but umpires may still meet on the field to
discuss the play (Fig 1). Each teams manager gets one instant replay per game, but if
the first replay gets overturned they will be given a second replay. Umpires have the
right to review any reviewable play without a coach asking for one. No replays may be
used after the beginning of the seventh inning. A designated communication location
near home plate will be established at all 30 MLB ballparks. There, the Crew Chief and
at least one other Major League Umpire will have access to a hard-wired headset
connected to the Replay Command Center, which will remain at MLB Advanced Media
headquarters in New York. Major League Umpires will be staffed as Replay Officials at

the Replay Command Center. After viewing video feeds, the Replay Official will make
the ultimate determination of whether to overturn the call, based on the continuing
standard of whether there is clear and convincing evidence(MLB Clubs).
First, I like the instant replays because of the extra review by the umpires.
Another reason why I like it is because it satisfies the fans by allowing them to know that
the play can always be called correctly. I really like how they have a separate umpire
crew away from the field in New York that helps watch the replays and helps confirm or
overturn the calls made by the umpires at the game. Also, adding a strategy to the
game for knowing when managers will use their guaranteed challenge.
Next, the review by the umpires at the game and in the main headquarters in
New York have many different plays that can be reviewed. The first one is out calls at a
base, and that is whether the runner beat the throw to the bag or if the player in the field
actually touched the bag (Fig 2). The second one is home run balls and this is a hard
on to see because the ball could wrap around In the foul pole and be called foul when
reality it was a homerun or at some stadiums the ball could hit something or someone
and bounce back into play when actually the ball went over the fence. The third one is
fair or foul calls in the outfield and this is when the ball hits close to or on the foul line
and its tough to see (Fig 3). The fourth one is catch or trap calls on line drives or fly
balls and this is when an outfielder is diving for a ball and if he traps it is when the ball
hits the ground and his traps it under his glove and acts like he catches it. The fifth one
is stadium boundary calls and this is different at every stadium; each stadium has its
own boundaries on whether or not certain objects around the field are in play or not and
if it isnt and the ball hits one of the objects the ball becomes dead. The sixth one is

timing plays and this is only with two outs and it happens when runners are on base and
the ball is hit, every
runner that scores
before the player that hit
the ball gets out and
sometimes a runner
may touch home at the
same time as the batter
gets out. And the
seventh one is base
running and this is used to see whether or not the runner touched one of the bases or if
he missed it or if one runner accidentally passes another runner.
Also, another reason I like instant replays is because more fans are satisfied. Tv
fans at home sometimes dont get to see all the plays like the fans at the game so

having the replays makes them happier. Another thing is now the MLB is allowed to
show the instant replays on the jumbotron at the field which allows the fans to get a

second and closer look at the play (Fig 4). Instant replays also leaves little doubt on
controversial calls and the fans are satisfied by taking human element out of the game.

Another thing is, knowing

when the managers should use
their challenges is a good thing for
the team because they only use it
if they know for sure the umpire
was wrong. To use an instant
replay is a tough decision for the
manager, because he needs to be at least ninety-five percent sure that he is right and
the umpire is wrong. The manager always wants to get two reviews per game so he
would never waste one on a play that isnt a big deal or isnt sure is overturnable. The
more the play means to winning or losing the game makes a difference to the manager
whether or not he will use an instant replay.
Additionally, the first counterpoint to instant replays is managers dislike long
delays and momentum shifts. The next counterpoint to instant replays is pitchers and
player do not like it because they could get tight from waiting on the review. Also, fans
that think baseball is already too long of a game dislike replays because it lengthens the
game. Finally, baseball purists hate instant replays because they liked the game the
way is has been since it has started.

Next, managers and players enjoy when they have good momentum and team
rallies and instant replays can stop both of those very quickly and that pisses off some
managers (Fig 5). Some players like playing at their own pace which is fast and dont
like it when something messes that up, and instant replays can freeze up players and
get them out of their groove. Most pitchers dislike instant replays because when they
are pitching they like to keep their arms loose and warm and during delays for replays
they can become tight and thats not
good for their arms.
Finally, fans dislike instant
replays for many reasons like long
delays. Not only does reviewing a play
sometimes take awhile, but if the review
takes to long the players will have to
take even more time warming back up
and that really makes fans mad.
Baseball purists really hate instant
replays because they loved them game the way is has been played for the past hundred
years and they dont see why we need to add it when it wasnt used back when some of
the best baseball players that ever lived were playing. Purists absolutely despise
change in the things they love and changing baseball was one of those things.
In conclusion, many people really enjoy and appreciate the new instant replays.
They like how all the calls have a hundred percent chance of being right if the manager
decides to challenge the play. On the other hand, a lot of people dont like the new

instant replays. They dislike how it extends the game, because they believe that it is
too long of a game already. Also, there are baseball purists out there that dislike it
because it changed the game that they love from how it was when it first started over a
hundred years ago. The main reason that I side with implementing the instant replays is
because I like to know a hundred percent of the time if a coach feels like he should
challenge a play the correct call will be used whether the play was overturned or not.

Works Cited
MLB Clubs Unanimously Approve Expansion of Instant Replay. Major League
Baseball. Web. 14 Nov. 2015.
Replay Review. Major League Baseball. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
USA TODAY: Latest World And US News. USA Today. Gannett, n.d. Web. 17 Nov.
2015.
Witz, Billy. Questions In Baseball Over Unintended Consequence of Instant Replay.
The New York Times. The New York Times, 2015. Web. 13 Nov. 2015

Lee, Jane. Astros Get Reversal of Terrance Gore's Steal. Major League Baseball.
Web. 20 Nov. 2015.

Essay Evaluation Rubric 1311

2=inadequate, 3=adequate, 4=good, 5=excellent

Text shows an awareness of a clear external audience. The voice, tone, and level of
formality are appropriate for the audience and purpose.
Effectively synthesizes, and contextualizes appropriate sources (articles, surveys,
and/or interviews).

Seems as though you didnt address a counter argument with enough passion
and specificity .
Shows evidence of thoughtful and intelligent re-thinking about the essays global
aspects (thesis, organization, focus, development of ideas, use of specific detail, and
language).

TotalRhetorical Knowledge/Critical Thinking, Reading, Writing, Design,

Graphics, Revision

Introduction
Fully and engagingly establishes the context and boundaries of the topic while
5

enticing the reader and setting the tone. The thesis is stated clearly and completely.

Establishes the context and boundaries of the topic as it attempts to entice the
reader and set the tone. The thesis, while present, could be clearer, more specific.

Establishes the context and boundaries of the topic but is unengaging.

Does not clearly establish the context and boundaries of the topic or is formulaic or
uninteresting. The thesis is unclear or incomplete or is missing.

Body Paragraphs
Paragraphs develop one reason which clearly contributes to an understanding of the
thesis. Unity: Ideas are easy to follow and transitions are used effectively.
Development: paragraphs are fully developed, providing convincing elaboration
through specific and relevant details, reasons, examples, and uses exact and
appropriate language. The content is remarkable because of the intelligent way the
writer addresses the topic. No major errors in logic.

Paragraphs develop one reason which contributes to an understanding of the thesis.

4

However, a few sentences may not clearly contribute to the paragraph's main idea.
Unity: some transitional words or phrases are used. Development: paragraphs are
developed with detailed support. While supporting ideas develop the paragraph's
main idea, there are places where the writer needs to add more details or be more
precise to make the connections obvious. Some minor errors in logic may exist.

Paragraphs attempt to develop one reason which contributes to an understanding of

the thesis. However, a number of sentences may not clearly contribute to the
paragraph's main idea. Unity: some transitional words or phrases are used
occasionally. Development: paragraphs are under developed with only some
support. While some supporting ideas develop the paragraph's main idea, there are
places where the writer needs to add much more detail or be much more precise to
make the connections obvious. Some errors in logic may exist.

Paragraphs may begin with a topic sentence, but do not clearly relate to the thesis.

Paragraphs may also follow a predictable and monotonous pattern. Unity: There are
abrupt qualities either because of brevity or lack of coherence among supporting
ideas. Development: paragraphs provide only a summary development of the topic.
Support is presented in a skeletal structure and relies on generalizations. Word
choices may be careless or redundant, resulting in thoughts that are unclear, lack
depth and imagination. Or it presents many supporting ideas, some of which do not
clearly relate to the topic. Some errors in logic may exist.
Conclusion
An original, graceful ending that reinforces the essay's thesis. Leaves reader with
something to chew on.

Restates the thesis and/or main points and offers the reader some analysis or
4

commentary that reinforces the essay's position.

An ending that merely restates the thesis and/or main points.

Too brief to be successful. Or introduces new ideas. Or Raises ideas that contradict
the thesis.

Language Skills and Voice

Strong command of diction and vocabulary. Persona is engaging, trustworthy,
credible, well-informed, thoughtful, and fair. Addresses a counter argument (different
perspective). Successfully uses and punctuates a variety of sentence structures.
Few if any errors exist, and errors do not interfere with readability. Writer
demonstrates consistent command of higher level language skills.

Command of diction and vocabulary. Persona is mainly engaging, trustworthy,

credible, well-informed, thoughtful, and fair but breaks down in some places. Some
variety of sentence structure exists. Minor errors exist in structure. Writer

demonstrates good command of higher level language skills.

Some command of diction and vocabulary. Persona is mostly engaging, trustworthy,

3

credible, well-informed, thoughtful, and fair but fails to really hold attention. Some
variety of sentence structure exists. May contain a few major grammatical and
mechanical errors, but errors only create minor difficulty in readability.
At times you lost your audience because of repetitiveness.
Poor command of diction and vocabulary. Persona barely registers. Writer shows
poor basic skills. Frequent errors in basic grammar and mechanics, which creates
difficulty in reading.

Documentation
All references, quotes, and paraphrases are clearly and completely documented,
both in the text and in a properly formatted Works Cited page.

4 In-text citations and Works Cited entries are included, but there are some omissions and
format errors.
Need to label figures

Little to no documentation of sources resulting in unintentional plagiarism.

Source material is deliberately plagiarized.

TotalProcess/Conventions
2
0

Grade
8

5
B