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Most Rays Favor Replay, Provided It's Limited
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Published: August 27, 2008
ST. PETERSBURG - Major League Baseball's announcement Tuesday that instant replay would be enacted beginning with this weekend's series drew a generally positive response from the Rays.
"It's a great step; I definitely think it's needed," said Scott Kazmir. "I've seen so many home runs that were not the right call, so many balls that looked like they were home runs and weren't called. It just makes it a little bit easier."
Kazmir acknowledged concerns that the pace of the game might slow down as umpires consulted the replay monitor, but Eric Hinske said he thinks the technology might actually speed up games simply because there should be fewer time-consuming arguments.
"I don't see how it can't help the game," Hinske said. "As long as you don't take the human element out, as long as there's not a computer calling balls and strikes or safe and out, we're fine."
That potential slippery slope of opening up replay to other disputed calls in the future seemed the overriding concern, even among those in favor of the change - Joe Maddon and Evan Longoria among them.
"I really don't want it to open up Pandora's Box, with calls at home and calls at the bases and eventually behind the plate - I just don't want it to get to that," said Longoria. "So it's going to be a good thing and a bad thing, and we'll see how it goes."
The strongest dissenter in the Rays' clubhouse seemed to be Trever Miller, who also worried about this being the first step to greater technological influence over how the game is played. But his primary argument against replay is far more basic.
"I love the human element that's involved," said Miller. "I think that kind of sparks a lot of the fans' emotions, managers' emotions, players' emotions. Arguing calls has been a part of this game for a long time, and people enjoy that."
The newly installed replay monitor at Tropicana Field is in a storage room just off the visitors' dugout. The room boasts a new 19-inch flat screen television and a telephone that will put the umpires in contact with MLB headquarters in New York.
Replay could come in especially handy at the Trop with its unusual catwalks, though Executive Vice President Andrew Friedman said he can't recall a ball that hit off a catwalk being ruled incorrectly during his time with the team.
REHAB WATCH: The Rays should have both closer Troy Percival and 3B Evan Longoria back within a week, if the two players' predictions are accurate.
Percival threw off the mound Tuesday for the first time since going on the 15-day DL with a cartilage problem in his right knee and said he "I probably had as much velocity as I've had all year." He is eligible to come off the DL on Saturday, but he said he is ready now.
"I could have got people out today," Percival said. "I don't know if I'm going to be sprinting around a whole lot, but I can cover first base, I can field a bunt."
Longoria (fractured right wrist) plans to throw today, but he still is a few days away from swinging a bat. He said the pain hasn't completely subsided and he wants to get to that point before taking his hacks.
"I think Sept. 1 is probably the best assumption as far as when I'll be ready," he said.
The Rays might wait until then to activate Percival, too. Rosters expand that day, so they wouldn't have to move someone out to clear a spot for him.
BECKHAM MOVES UP: SS Tim Beckham, the top overall pick in this year's draft, will move up to Single-A short-season Hudson Valley today.
Beckham had been with Rookie League Princeton, which saw its season end in anticlimactic fashion Tuesday with a rainout. The 18-year-old bounced back from a slow start at the plate to finish at .243 with 12 doubles, two homers and 14 RBIs in 46 games. Beckham collected at least one hit in seven of his final eight games in Princeton.
Second-round LHP Kyle Lobstein, who didn't sign until Aug. 15, also will move from Princeton to Hudson Valley today but will not pitch.
FALL GUYS: Durham RHP Chris Mason will join the Rays' contingent with the Arizona Fall League's Peoria Javelinas. Montgomery LHP James Houser, RHP Ryan Reid, C Matt Spring, IF Rhyne Hughes and OF J.T. Hall also will play for the Javelinas, as previously reported. Columbus coach Ozzie Timmons, a Tampa native, will serve on the Javelinas' staff.
Marc Lancaster
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