In a move that will change the landscape of the sporting world, Little League Baseball will use instant replay in South Williamsport, Pa. during the World Series in August.

Instant replay will be used to determine “questionable” home runs and close plays at the outfield fence.

According to Little League officials, the rule will be limited to instances in which a batted ball “leaves the field of play at or near the outfield fence, or should have been ruled out of the field of play.”

A “game operations replay official” will need “clear and convincing” evidence to overturn an umpire's ruling on the field.

Their quotation marks, not mine.

OK, let's look at this rule from a distance in a calm and dignified manner ... ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THIS IS SO STUPID!

The idea has been considered ever since several apparently blind Major League umpires blew some home run calls. In the majors, there are several new parks that are marked with yellow lines in the middle of a wall to indicate a homer and some have scoreboards just behind the outfield fence, which obscures the home run line.

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Should the majors look into this?

I say yes, they should.

But come on, this is the Little League World Series with a 4-foot high fence that is 225 feet away in left, center and right fields.

If memory serves me right, they actually use six umpires in the championship games. That means there is an umpire within 30 feet of the outfield fence.

If that umpire cannot see if a ball went over the fence, then that ump should be given new glasses and be assisted to a seat.

Yes, once upon a time, an umpire actually blew a home run call. In a 2005 U.S. semi-final game between Maitland, Fl. and Rancho Buena Vista, Calif., umpire Steve Oullet made a mistake.

Mailand's Mike Tomlinson hit a three-run home run that Oullet ruled a ground-rule double. ESPN showed numerous replays that showed the ball hitting the netting attached to the foul pole, which is past the fence.

Once ... it happened once. It's Little League, the ball is over the fence or it isn't.

Managers or umpires cannot call for a ruling, the replay umpire must consult with a Little League official - who makes the final ruling.

OK, replay has worked in the NFL and at the end of quarters in NBA games. It will soon make its appearance in Major League Baseball. But does it really need to be in Little League?

I'm sorry - I just don't think it is necessary.

If you really want to take the guesswork out of “Is it over the fence or not?,” why not hire two out-of-work hockey goal judges to sit behind the foul poles - ready to set off the red light when the ball clears the fence.

Replay has taken that job too.

Sports writer Brad Memberto can be reached at 737-1055 or by e-mail to bmemberto@santamariatimes.com

July 31, 2008