Sabathia Screwed By One Scorer?

When you compare the NFL’s scoring and record keeping process against the MLB’s process we infact notice huge differences. The most obvious difference besides the two games being complete different from one another is that the MLB only allows instant replay to be used when a homerun ball is in question. So why doesn’t Major League baseball allow other plays, such as the play that may have cost C.C. Sabathia a no-hitter this past Sunday to be reviewed? Who knows! 

Scoring decisions are tough to make. However, it occured to RBI Magazine that only ONE, yes I said ONE, scorer is incharge of the official scoring process at each Major League baseball game. Interesting huh? Keep this in mind as you read the rest of the article.

The play occured in the fifth inning when a ground ball was hit sharply at Sabathia. He bobbled the ball not once, but a few times, dropped it again, and then made no attempt to throw it to first. Pirates’ Andy LaRoche was awarded an infield SINGLE crushing Sabathia’s chance at a no-hit game. Ok, not a big deal,  it is only the 5th inning right? The odds of a no hitter are still not on any pitcher’s side at this stage in a game.

So let’s put this into perspective. If Milwaukee manager Ned Yost had a red challenge flag in his posession, would he have thrown it challenging the call on the field? Hell no.  At this stage in the game it was a routine play that virtually meant nothing. The killer is; Sabathia finished the game throwing a now questionable one hit shut out.

The shocking part of the story is that the Milwaukee Brewers are asking Major League Baseball to turn CC Sabathia’s one-hitter into a no-hitter. Could a play like this be a candidate for instant replay? Can’t that one scorer take a few minutes or seconds to review the play instead of making a questionable scoring decision. In most cases similar to this situation using instant replay will not even affect the play on the field.

Not only does the Brewers GM want Sabathia to be awarded a no-hitter, he is sick of  the entire scoring decision process!

According to CBSsports.com, GM Doug Melvin said he thought there should be a committee to decide scoring decisions like the one that may have cost Sabathia a no-hitter in the Brewers’ 7-0 victory over the Pirates on Sunday. One official scorer is used in all baseball games until the World Series, where a three-person panel reviews scoring plays.

If you ask me, that’s alot of pressure on one guy and too much room for mistakes to be made. Taking the spotlight off the umps and focusing the use of instant replay on scoring decisions or adding a few more “joe shmoes” to the scorers table might be a smooth move on the MLB’s part.

Whether or not C.C. Sabathia got screwed by one scorer or not, this issue needs to be addressed to alievate such incidents in the future. Is Doug Melvin on to something?