Time For MLB To Use Instant Replay

Robinson Cano CLEARLY tags Omar Infante out

    Winds of change may be blowing in the world of Major League Baseball...or at least you would hope so after yet another awful call on base during game 2 of the ALCS between the Yankees and Tigers. This certainly isn't the first time an umpire has made an awful call on base, it's just the most recent.
    For those of you who didn't see the play, Tigers 2nd baseman Omar Infante was on first base when outfielder Austin Jackson got a base hit to right field. Yankees outfielder Nick Swisher fielded it cleanly and threw to second base to try and cut off Infante, who'd strayed a little too far while considering going from first to third base. Swisher's throw beat him by a mile, and Robinson Cano tagged him on the chest.
    Easy call to make, right? He should've been called out, but second base umpire Jeff Nelson called him safe. woops. To his credit though, Nelson admitted it was the wrong call after the game. No, I don't think it directly changed the outcome of the game, but you've got to wonder when a call like this will change the outcome of a game and how much longer the MLB will refuse to implement a bigger usage of instant replay, at least in the playoffs anyway.
    Yeah sure, there is instant replay on home runs and foul balls...but that's it. It's baffling to me why the MLB won't implement instant replay on other plays in the game, such as base calls, to try and avoid (or at least correct) blatantly bad calls like the one we saw on Sunday.
    The sport's reasoning for not wanting instant replay is honestly idiotic. There are worries that it might slow down the pace of the game. Is this a joke? Baseball still has a 7th inning stretch. Batters leave the box to adjust their gloves and take a look around the field between every pitch. Don't argue that it'll ruin the pace of the game. Baseball is already the slowest game there is.
    Another reason is the MLB doesn't want to take out the "human element" of the game. Time and time again it's been proven that the human element (at least with the umpires) stinks. Leave the human element part to the players. These umpires need help to improve play calling. Blatantly bad calls leave fans unhappy, and usually lead to manager's getting tossed from the game. By the way, the argument a manager has with an umpire before they are thrown out takes longer than looking at a replay would. Do the math.
    Our nation's pastime needs to stop living in the past, and get with the current times. It's like people nowadays who refuse to get a cell phone or use the internet. The technology is available, not using it and utilizing it is not just moronic, but also a waste. This is one of the reasons that baseball is losing more and more younger fans each year, and why it's looked at as the Grandpa of the sports world.
    Every other major sport has some form of instant replay that they can use to make sure a call is correct. The NFL has it, both the NBA and NHL have it, even tennis has instant replay. All the MLB is doing by not using instant replay is making themselves look foolish. It will probably take something like a blown call in a World Series game to ever make any sort of change. I hope that won't have to be the tipping point, but it doesn't look like the MLB is going to budge on this issue anytime soon.

Studs/Duds/Locks Week 5

Week 5 Studs

Joe Flacco QB Baltimore Ravens

Flacco has looked great this year, and has performed consistantly on a fantasy basis also. He goes against a weak Kansas City defense this week. I’m  looking for another 20+ point performance out of this QB

Andy Dalton QB Cincinnati Bengals

Who would have thought that Andy Dalton would be a lock for 20 fantasy  points a week? He has been so far this season. His match-up this week  isn’t glamorous, but it’s still a good one. Miami has the top ranked run defense, so the Bengals won’t be doing too much running it would seem.  What does that mean? The ball will move mainly through Dalton. Start  him.

Matt Ryan QB Atlanta Falcons

Howbout Matty Ice? He’s been a machine this year. Must be hard not to be though with WRs like Roddy White and Julio Jones to throw to. Week 5 Matty  plays the Redskins, who have an awful pass D. Look for Ryan to have a  MONSTER game.

Richardson could blow up this weekend.

Trent Richardson RB Cleveland Browns

Let’s be honest for a second here, this kid’s been a beast. He is the Browns’ only threat, and has gotten at least 20 touches a game. The Giants’ run D is also kind of weak. He may not rush for over 100  yards, but  between running and catching the ball (and probably even a touchdown or  two) I’d look for Richardson to have another big game.

Jackie Battle RB San Diego Chargers

Jackie Battle? Yup. Ryan Matthews has been a fantasy letdown, yet again  (surprise). Even if Norv Turner decides to give a lot of carries to  Matthews, Battle should still see a good workload and will definitely  see any if not ALL carries inside the 10 yard line. Going up against the worst rushing defense in the league, this is a good looking match-up  for Battle.

Alfred Morris RB Washington Redskins

Who would’ve thought that there would be little to no Shanahanigans in  Washington this year? Morris has gotten pretty much all the carries in  Washington this year, and has performed very well. Look for him to get  the bulk workload once again this week against Atlanta.

Marshawn Lynch RB Seattle Seahawks

Lynch is a workhorse back. Add that in with Seattle’s QB situation seeming to be up in the air right now and Lynch facing a horrible run defense in  Carolina, and you’ve got a recipe for success. He is definitely a MUST  start this week.

Julio Jones & Roddy White WRs Atlanta Falcons

This should almost be common sense by now if you’ve been following football. These receivers are elite, and Matty Ice has been on point this season. Oh, did I mention the Redskins’ pass D isn’t good? That’s right, I did. These two should go off this week.

Eric Decker WR Denver Broncos

You may be asking, “why Eric Decker and not Demaryus Thomas?” Well, as  we’ve seen so far this season, Bill Belichick likes to neutralize  opposing team’s top WR option. They did it to Larry Fitz in Week 2, and I would say Thomas is definitely the Broncos’ biggest big play threat at  WR. This leaves room for Decker to clean up the leftovers.

Tony Gonzalez TE Atlanta Falcons

This guy looks like hes 25 again this year. Matty Ice has loved throwing to  him, and like I’ve already mentioned twice now previously, the Falcons  go against a weak Redskins pass D this week.

Kyle Rudolph TE Minnesota Vikings

The Titans are the worst team in the Red Zone as far as completion  percentage allowed, and Rudolph has been the highest targeted Vikings  player in the Red Zone. He’s been a big part of that offense, and it  seems like he will stay a big part this coming week.

Vikings D/ST

Believe it or not this D is tied for the 3rd most fantasy points among  defenses. They have a stout run D, and are at home against a struggling  Titans offense.

Giants D/ST

The G-Men are playing rookie QB Brandon Weeden this week…at home. Done.

Week 5 Duds

Michael Vick QB Philadelphia Eagles

He protected the ball (surprisingly) last week against the Giants. But  with him going on the road to Pittsburgh this week, and them getting  back Troy Polamalu and James Harrison, Michael Vick could very well turn back into the turnover machine he was over the first 3 weeks.

Cam Newton QB Carolina Panthers

I’m sorry Cam, but the trust just isn’t there right now. He’s been  inconsistant, and is going up against a tough defense in the Seahawks.  Yes, I know the Panthers are at home…but I just don’t see this game  going well.

Fred Jackson & C.J. Spiller RBs Buffalo Bills

Both are banged up and both play the 49ers this week. That is all.

Chris Johnson RB Tennessee Titans

CJ2K has been a shell of his former self this season. Yes, he had a good  game against the Texans…but I think that was sort of a fluke. I  definitely don’t trust him, and his match-up against the Vikings doesn’t bode well either.

Jeremy Maclin WR Philadelphia Eagles

It’s tough to NOT list a guy here who can’t seem to stay on the field…

Smith will struggle against the Seahawk secondary.

Steve Smith WR Carolina Panthers

Smith’s numbers have been on the decline since Week 1 – not to mention he still hasn’t found the end zone this season. This week he’s against one of  the best secondaries in the league. Seattle’s secondary held Larry  Fitzgerald, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, Dez Bryant and Miles Austin to  verrrrry sub par games this season. Things don’t look so good for Steve  in this game.

Heath Miller TE Pittsburgh Steelers

Miller has performed well in fantasy so far, but he faces an Eagles defense  this week that has allowed the third fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. Start him at your own risk.

Jets D/ST

Remember when this defense was actually good? Me too. Arian Foster and Matt Schaub will shred these boys on Monday night.

Week 5 Locks

Lock of the Week: Texans giving 8 points to the Jets

If you’ve been following football, and like to bet on football, you should be drooling over this. I’m baffled as to how this spread  isn’t over 10 points. I’m not going to go into a bunch of stats to back  this up, I’m just going to keep it simple; the Jets stink, and Houston is really good. Look for the final score to be somewhere around 30-10.

Ravens giving 6 points to the Chiefs

Gotta like this one a lot, too. The Ravens will take control of this game  early on. Sure, KC could end up with some garbage time points, but I  still think Baltimore will easily cover this spread.

Saints giving 3.5 points to the Chargers

You might think I’m crazy for this one. It’s okay, I did too at first. However, I believe that on a night where Drew Brees will likely break Johnny  Unitas’ TD record, and will have Sean Payton watching…the energy in  that dome is just going to be too much for the Chargers. The Saints are  due to win, and the one good team that San Diego DID play…they got  spanked. Saints should cover by at least a touchdown.

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