Baseball purists are an interesting bunch.  If it were up to them, we wouldn’t have the technological advancements we enjoy today.  Instead of automobiles and computers, we’d be using horsedrawn carriages and an abacus.  Instead of modern medical treatments, we’d have bloodletting and leeches.   

At least that’s they way these Purists come across.  Because whenever someone dares to suggest using technology to enhance the sport of baseball, they shout it down as if we’re suggesting their daughters audition to be contestants for the next Flavor of Love.

In the past, these people have screamed from the rooftops that such evils as the wild card and interleague play would irreparably damage baseball and destroy its very soul.  Instead, the wild-card system has made October more unpredictable and exciting, and interleague play has been a fan favorite. 

Now the Purists are at it again.  This time the cause du jour is the lingering assumption that MLB will soon be bringing in some version of instant replay to review home-run calls. 

God forbid.

The other three major sports—okay, two major sports and hockey—have all instituted reasonable and successful replay systems.  Why is it baseball is always behind the curve? 

The Purists have plenty of arguments, but I find most of them to be ridiculous and not particularly well thought-out. 

It’ll undermine the umpire’s authority.

Really?  I haven’t noticed the authority of the officials in the other aforementioned sports’ leagues undermined.  As far as I can tell, referees in those sports have as much clout as they’ve ever had, and when they blow their whistles, the games still stop. 

I’m sure some officials would even argue they like replay because it allows them to get the call right.  And really, shouldn’t that be their highest priority? “Authority” should come a distant second to getting it right. 

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