The Final Score

MLB officially used instant replay last night for the first time, so what better time to discuss its merits - and whether it should be used on plays other than home runs.

ANTHONY: It’s a slippery slope . . . so let’s slide all the way down!

I loved the first use of instant replay. It was quick and efficient and they got the call right.

Someone called it a “slippery slope” – meaning, we’re all going to slide to our demise if replay is used or even expanded.

To which I say: p’shaw.

Technology usually enhances our lives. Trust me, I’m not a gadget person, but I can’t imagine living without my Blackberry. Or my DVR. Or my Facebook account, even though every body is now on Facebook and it’s kind of getting cluttered.

Instant replay is too much? I say it’s not enough.

If you have the technology, use it. Use replay for everything except balls and strikes. Where’s the romance in a guy being called out at first base when he’s clearly safe? Have someone sitting in a room in New York beep the umpire and overturn the call. How long will that take? A few minutes? Isn’t that worth it to get the call right?

Football hasn’t been ruined by replay. Games aren’t any longer than they used to be. People still watch/bet.

Use the technology.

You know how I know I’m right? Ken Davidoff agrees with me. And that doesn’t happen often.

JIM: Instant replay works for home runs, but that's it

I think Major League Baseball got it right on this one. An umpire messing up a home run call has a direct and immediate impact on the game, and without a doubt baseball should go to every length possible to make sure umpires get those calls right.

Jeffrey Maier, anyone?

But, sorry Anthony, but I don't see the merits of including instant replay on anything and everything. You have to draw the line somewhere, because if you don't before long you'll have managers calling for instant replays of a checked swing. And you know they would.

(Cough, cough, Tony LaRussa, cough, cough).

Besides, we already have games lasting more than three hours each night. No reason to extend the play for no good reason. Use it to get the home run calls right, and we can all sleep well at night.

But if you really, really want to expand instant replay, I see only one way: do it like football does. Each manager gets one chance every game to fight a call with the use of instant replay. If he proves to be right, great. But if he proves to be wrong, he loses his instant replay rights for the next three games.

A little tedious? Yes. So let's just leave it the way it is.