Last night in the Yankees-Rays game, instant replay was used for the first time to evaluate a potential home run by A-Rod.
The process apparently went off without a hitch, and as the Rays catcher said, "Sometimes it takes longer for the manager to get kicked out of the game."
I guess it's inevitable, and probably good news. But it still seems a bit of a shame.
I've mentioned before that I think there's something great about the fact that baseball can be won or lost on a human call. It keeps you guessing, and keeps things interesting.
Plus, I'm not one who likes the raw data over the emotional moment. I like that time and hopes can color what we remember, make it more vivid and more exciting.
Yesterday Pete and I were interviewed about having been to so many games - for a possible bit on the sports news sometime soon.
It was fun and very flattering. But I keep thinking - I know how I feel about this fun summer, and all I've learned, and all I've enjoyed.
What if my perception of it isn't right, though? What if on tape we sound flakey or ignorant or something?
I'm not sure I want the video evidence in some archive forever. I want to keep this summer and our experience of it in my mind, evolving it, making it even more a part of me ...even if it's less a part of what was really "real."
So, we'll see. Maybe the tape will show me just what I hope. It did for A-Rod -- the call went in his favor and lifted him to number 12 on the list of most career homers.
I guess that's the sweet spot we all hope for -- when perception and reality combine for a home run we can remember forever.
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