A Damn Shame, Nationals Robbed by Umpires

It had its dissenters, including myself. Why introduce a technology to the game that will take away from its charm. Yes, umpires miss things, yes they make mistakes. It’s part of baseball lure, however, and as a true fan we take the Jeffery Maier’s no matter which side of the ruling we’re on.

Wednesday night crossed the line.

A Daniel Murphy double was turned into a Daniel Murphy home run. The ball landed 10 feet short of the fence and was fielded on one hop by Adam Dunn. Mets Manager Jerry Manuel came onto the field to complain that the ball must have hit an overhanging Subway sign in right field. Not a single umpire had felt this way, and there was no indication by anyone that the ball had left the ballpark.

After reviewing the play, it was ruled a home run, giving the Mets the go-ahead run.

The evidence? Nowhere near conclusive. The ruling? Unprecedented. The Nats? Screwed.

Later SNY reporters would ask fans in the outfield whether or not they heard the ball hit the Subway sign on the fly ball in question; none of them responded saying they heard it, and several said the Mets “got away with one.”

Now if you are going to introduce this technology to the game, it better be used correctly. I can live with, in fact, I embrace the occasional human error on home run calls. It’s those little twirks that make the game go around. But if you are going to take that away, and promise with video replay 100 percent accuracy, I expect better calls.

I expect calls that aren’t 90 percent disagreeable. I expect calls that don’t make my gut wrench. I’m not even one to argue calls in general, but if you are going to bring in technology, for God's sake, get it right.

The Washington Nationals are owed an apology.