September 06, 2021

I'm watching a baseball game right now, and it's in the bottom of the second and it is already NEARLY 1 1/2 HOURS LONG! Part of the problem is that the plate umpire had to be replaced after he took a foul ball off the mask. What set me off was what appeared to be a senseless challenge of a call at second base. (It turned out to be a crew chief challenge of a ball that was within a few inches of a home run.) Nonetheless, I have an idea that might limit the number of useless challenges. That is, if a challenge is made on a baserunner -- runner called safe and
and call challenged -- and the challenge is unsuccessful, the runner will be awarded one extra base. For example, a safe call at second is challenged unsuccessfully. The runner would be awarded third, and if third is legally occupied, that runner would be awarded home. If nothing else, this might cause managers to think twice before making a challenge. Challenges of calls at a boundary would not be affected.

posted by Howard_T at 02:46 PM on September 06, 2021