MLB Replay Debate Resurfaces: Is Derek Jeter a Cheater?

Less than 24 hours after the Tampa Bay Rays took two of three games from the New York Yankees, the talk is not about the Rays taking back control of the AL East, but rather about what happened with Derek Jeter in the seventh inning.

In the seventh inning, a fastball ran inside on Derek Jeter and appeared to hit him on the left arm.  Jeter reacted by throwing his bat and appearing to be writhing in pain, when in reality the replay shows that the ball hit the knob of Jeter’s bat.

He was awarded first base and the controversial call has been talked about ever since.

It has sparked a debate around the sporting world: Did Derek Jeter cheat or did he show gamesmanship?

Analysts and professional athletes, present and former, have all chimed in on the topic and have voiced their responses one way or the other. 

The problem is that what Jeter did was not cheating but rather a showing of gamesmanship.  Jeter did what it took to get on base in an important game against a divisional opponent.

It does not make sense to make the claim that Jeter cheated because it is the umpire that decides the calls during the game.  If anything it was a bad call made by the officials. 

Although it is difficult for umpires to make the correct call every time, the sound of the ball hitting the knob should have been loud enough to be heard.  The umpires in the field have a decent view to make the call as well.

One solution that has been circling the league is to expand the use of instant replay from just home run calls to other aspects of the game such as base running, foul balls, and calls at the plate.  It would help in eliminating questionable calls such as the Jeter “hit by pitch.”

It then brings up whether or not gamesmanship is the “right” way to play sports.  It does not make sense to say that it is the “wrong” way to win.  Winning is winning.

Joe Maddon, the manager of the Tampa Bay Rays, was even quoted as saying that he wishes that his guys would do the same thing.  If the opposing manager says something like that it just shows what Jeter did is not looked down upon by his competitors.

The biggest issue that is underlying this entire incident is the prevalence of acting in professional sports.  The officials for each of the professional sports need to be looking for this a little closer so that when the replay is shown, it does not result in an obvious blown call.

If this incident happened the opposite way, as in Jeter was hit but the umpire said it was a foul ball, it definitely would not have received the same attention.  Blown calls are expected every once in awhile, but professional athletes acting should be caught by the officials.