Baseball lays down the law on replays
Replays are serious stuff to Major League Baseball, which issued something called Bulletin D-12 before the start of the year that tells teams what they may and may not show. It even has to be posted in the scoreboard operations booth.
Reading this, you may understand why scoreboard operators are spooked about showing plays that may be at all controversial. We have taken the Royals to task about this, and I still think more replays are justified, but it’s interesting to read what MLB dictates.
Chris DeRuyscher, director of game entertainment for the Royals, sent me the policy this week.
It says “Clubs must continue to use good judgment not to ‘show up’ the umpires, incite the crowd or distract players, but this admonition does not preclude showing close plays.”
The bulletin says the following must NOT be shown: Any calls on balls or strikes, brushback pitches and any case where the umpire has clearly made an incorrect call.
Double plays and force-outs at second base can only be shown if there is “indisputable evidence the umpire made the correct call.” (Are we then supposed to cheer the call?)
Other things off-limits to show include fights between players or any “episode” that would embarrass the umpire, visiting team or official scorer.
In conclusion, the bulletin states: “Clubs who violate the regulations are subject to disciplinary action, with intentional or malicious violations resulting in severe disciplinary actions.”
DeRuyscher said the Royals get warned often by umpires and that Major League Baseball has officially warned that a hefty fine will be levied for non-compliance.
“We want to show every replay and entertain the fans as best we can but we have to stay within the rules handed down to us,” DeRuyscher writes.
In my view, baseball needs to lighten up and quit striking fear in the fingers of scoreboard operators. Sure, some restraint is warranted in showing close or controversial plays to keep order in the ballpark, but many replays would not show up an umpire at all. Besides, umpires are paid well to make the right call and should have a thicker skin when they sometimes are not perfect.
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