Bud Selig Doesn't Trust the Devil's Electricity

Rarely have leagues attempted to incorporate instant replay, or any rules and logistics changes, as fast as Major League Baseball is attempting to with instant replay. Why, it was only a few months ago that replay was merely a thought in fans' minds. A few botched home run calls later, and here we are, struggling through the dawn of new technology.

And struggling we (they) are: Despite having IR cameras on hand during last night's Phillies-Marlins game, the umps still screwed up a home run call (fist pound, brah: The Sporting Blog):

The first night Major League Baseball tested instant-replay equipment at Citizens Bank Park, it had a controversial home-run ball in the seventh inning in the Phillies' 8-2 loss to the Florida Marlins. Shane Victorino's two-run homer off Renyel Pinto looked foul on instant replay. Third base umpire Dale Scott called the ball fair and the umpires conferred after the Marlins protested. But the call stood, cutting the Marlins' lead to 4-2. Scott acknowledged after the game that the ball was foul.

Unfortunately for the Marlins, MLB was testing the equipment it could use in the future only to see how it works. In other words, umpires had no opportunity to run to a TV screen to check it out.

In other words, MLB is merely testing the fact that instant replay cameras work, despite the fact that TVs and cameras have been relaying laser beams at sporting events for like 30 years. This is kind of like sticking your hand in the wall socket just to test if your electricity works. Trust us, Bud Selig. The cameras are rolling.