Don't be surprised if Halladay winds up winning the Cy Young

I've been flip flopping left and right on the NL Cy Young award ever since it became clear in April that there were going to be a LOT of contenders.

For most of the year it looked like Ubaldo Jimenez's to lose.

Then Josh Johnson looked like the front runner and more recently I've been leaning towards Adam Wainwright.

But when the dust settles, and if the Phillies continue their huge comeback, it could very well be Roy Halladays. And yesterday's performance convinces me he might be the guy.

"BUT WAIT!" Say all the stats people. "He let up 5 runs today! He didn't have his best stuff yesterday! Yesterday was a subpar performance!"

Yes, I know that... and he still pitched well enough to win, take pressure off of the bullpen and keep the Phillies winning ways alive, taking the series from the Mets.

While a lot of stats people think baseball is played in a vacuum and things like "run support" and "winning the game" are irrelevant, I think it shows something from your ace when they don't have their best stuff and can hold on to win anyway.

I know that makes me irrelevant, but I have a feeling the team was grateful and the bullpen was happy.

Yeah, his run total was high, but he gave them 7 innings, struck out 10 and walked 1. (Isn't strike outs to walks a coveted stat?)

His WHIP is 4th in the NL.

For those who value wins (remember, the point of the game?) he has the third highest total behind Jimenez and Wainwright.

For those who like strikeouts, he has the most in the NL.

Nobody has pitched more innings in all of baseball (he should pass 200 innings before Labor Day.)

Nobody has completed more games or thrown more shutouts in all of baseball.

And oh yeah... since they hit rock bottom and were on the verge of being a .500 team in late July... he's gone 4-0, averaging more than 7 2/3 a start and a 2.03 ERA (and that includes the 5 runs today). He's also striking out better than 1 an inning. And he's winning games the Phillies NEED as they will probably make up a 7 game deficit and in all likely hood he'll be the ace of the Division Champion.

Not that those sort of things matter any more.

October Collision Course

Two teams had walk off wins today that were thrilling and made me really hope they face off, for many different reasons.

The Giants won this afternoon thanks to a pair of home runs by Pat Burrell, a shot by Sandoval and a walk off by Torres.

I guess all of my begging and pleading for the Giants to sign Johnny Damon wasn't necessary. Torres has done the job just fine.

And Pat Burrell has turned into the best mid season pick up for the Giants that I can remember since Rick Reuschel in 1987.

Meanwhile, across the country, the Giants arch rival Dodgers had their season basically end in a disastrous 9th inning that was partially caused by the spell and hexes cast onto the the L.A. Bullpen from this young Phillies fan.

As gruesome as the 9th inning was for Los Angeles and it seemingly will put a nail in the coffin of the Joe Torre era in Chavez Ravine, it also shows that the Phillies are peaking at a very advantageous time.

Any time you are down 9-2 in the 8th inning and can pull off the win, against a team with a winning record no less, it is time to pay attention.

I think the Phillies and Giants are on a collision course that will meet in October.

Now there is one problem with that prediction... as of this writing, both teams are in second place. The Giants and Phillies are tied in the loss column for the Wild Card.

Maybe that is where the collision will be.

Imagine a Wild Card play in game with Tim Lincecum versus Roy Halladay or Roy Oswalt.

But truth be told, I think both teams are making the post season. It will be only a matter of time before the Phillies leap frog the Braves.

And we'll see what happens with the Giants after this weekend's series with San Diego.

But Holy Cats, I want to see the Giants and the Phillies square off for meaningful games in October.

Not only will there be the intrigue of two teams with multiple aces...

Not only will there be the return of Pat Burrell to Philadelphia...

Not only will there be two passionate fan bases playing in new beautiful ballparks...

But my dad is a huge Giants fan.

And his brother, my uncle Don is a huge Phillies fan.

The potential fireworks between the brothers with meaningful games in October is too wonderful to avoid.

Now a potential Giants/Phillies showdown was thwarted before... in 1993 when the Giants won 103 games and missed the postseason because they were inexplicably in the same geographical division as the Braves.

So once again the Braves could stand in the way of a Giants-Phillies showdown.

Let's go Giants and let's go Phillies... if the Red Sox can't make it in October, I had better experience some other family fireworks!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen your WINNING pitcher, Brad Lidge

As I wrote yesterday, I still get impressed by a big win total even though we're supposed to call wins irrelevant these days.

A prime argument why?
Mr. Brad Lidge!

He coughs up a 9th inning, 2 out, 3 run game tying homer to Joey Votto tonight... and gets the W because the Phillies won in extra innings.

He owers Raul Ibanez a BIG steak dinner tonight for his game winning rally in the 9th.

So Phillies fans, how do you feel with Bradley Lidge back closing games as only he can?

Call me crazy, but if I were running the Phillies, I might be looking for a closer. Run with me on that one.

Hey Dodgers... what is wrong with this picture?

On July 21, 2009... less than a year ago, Cliff Lee was a pitcher for the Indians.
He threw a complete game 2-1 victory for the lowly Indians and as the defending Cy Young winner was on the trade block.

And the Dodgers, who made it to the 2008 NLCS, desperately needed an ace pitcher. They had some decent pitching but were also leaning on the Clayton Kershaws and Chad Billingsleys too much. They needed a stud to put them over the top.

He was traded to the Phillies 10 days later... and threw 8 shutout innings in the NLCS against the Dodgers.

He's been traded three times in the past year.

The Dodgers still desperately need a #1 starter.
Cliff Lee would have been PERFECT ace for the Dodgers. They may have won the 2009 NL Pennant and probably would be in first place as I type this instead of being in 4th place, 6 games back of the Padres in the loss column.

And yet with the need for Lee, the minor leaguers to trade, the pitchers park for him to thrive and the big market to resign him.

And how many proposed trades did we hear involving the Dodgers?
That would be ZERO!!!

Hey Frank McCourt... remind us how your divorce isn't affecting how the team is put together again?

Phillies fans... don't nag your team about Cliff Lee

Have you ever screwed up badly and tried to make up for it?
It might be with your spouse, or significant other or family…

I’m not talking about something huge like adultery or tax evasion.
I’m talking about a judgment call.

A bad investment, inviting the wrong person over, turning down a job that turned into a big windfall, buying the wrong kind of car… something that they could throw a few “I told you so”s at you.

At the exact moment that you knew you screwed up, don’t you tend to overcompensate? Don’t you tend to try to patch things up as quickly as possible?

And while you are fixing the problem if you get a “I don’t know why you just didn’t do what I told you to do before” flung at you, doesn’t it REALLY suck?

When you hear “Why didn’t you do what I told you to do?” don’t you just want to scream “I KNOW! I’M SORRY! I’M FIXING IT! GET OFF MY BACK!”

That’s what the Phillies are doing right now.

They traded for Roy Halladay in the off season. But instead of just trading prospects for Halladay, they decided to replenish their farm system in the process and deal Cliff Lee to get prospects BACK.

And everyone, including yours truly, said “Why didn’t you keep Lee and have the best 1-2 punch in baseball?”

With a shaky bullpen, they could have 2 aces who could throw 9 consistently and give the relievers a rest.

Yet the Phillies tried it out… and Halladay has been solid but Cliff Lee has dominated in both a Mariners and a Rangers uniform. And while the Phillies struggled it was clear they needed a #2 starter.

And oh yeah, the prospects they got for Lee have been stiffs so far.

And even though the Phillies seem to have righted their ship, they went out and traded for Roy Oswalt.

And it cost them prospects (including J. A. Happ) which is what they wanted to save when dealing Cliff Lee.

And Oswalt’s contract is going on for two more years while Cliff Lee’s expires after this year and the Phillies could have let him go and picked up 2 first round picks… which could have helped replenish the farm system.

It’s a solid move for the Phillies, yet virtually everyone is bringing up the Cliff Lee move when talking about the Oswalt trade.

They now have a great 1-2 punch, yet everyone is claiming they told the Phillies so.

The Phillies know!
They are sorry!
They are fixing it!
Get off of their backs!

THIS ISN’T GOING TO HELP MATTERS FOR THE PHILLIES

I wrote earlier that Phillies fans should refrain from nagging their team regarding Cliff Lee.

They know they screwed up… they’ve brought you flowers and an expensive gift (Roy Oswalt) to make up for it.

Well any hope I had for the “Why didn’t we just keep Lee?” rumblings to stop caught a giant snag.

Yup, Roy Oswalt got his butt kicked tonight by the “Currently Waving a White Flag” Washington Nationals.

OK, 6 innings, 4 earned runs isn’t a whippin’s but it isn’t what the Phillies were hoping for, especially facing a line up that didn’t exactly resemble the Big Red Machine.

With the offense reduced to a Jayson Werth homer (I thought they were going to trade him) they needed a pitcher to shut down the opposition.

Like how about J. A. Happ? He went 6 shutout innings for the Astros against Milwaukee.

You remember Happ? He’s the Phillies pitcher who was sent packing in the Oswalt deal… whom the Phillies could have kept in they also kept Cliff Lee.

Oh Phillies fans won’t be forgetting this any time soon.

Jamie Moyer deserved better

What the hell happened to the Phillies? Aren't they supposed to be the NL answer to the Yankees and Red Sox juggernaut?

Aren't they supposed to be a dynasty in the making?

Don't the know they have Jamie Moyer pitching tonight, sitting on 267 wins... a mere 33 wins from a trip to Cooperstown?

He pitched well... 6 innings, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts versus the lowly Pirates.

But the mighty Phillies managed NO runs off of Ross Ohlendorf! Going into tonight's game he was tied with ME for wins.

Come on Phils!
You've got an unlikely uniform to retire and Hall of Fame ticket to punch. Let's get on the ball. You can't blame EVERYTHING on Chase Utley's injury!

While I was out...

I took the weekend off from blogging and missed out on some great baseball.


Not the least of which was the imploding of the Reds. Gee Whiz, I wonder if Cincy misses the playoffs by a few games if they will be looking at a 4 game series where they let up 3 extra inning walk off hits (including 2 walk off homers) blew a 6 run 9th inning lead, lost two 1-0 games including a game where a poor shmuck had a perfect game going into the 9th.



The fact that the Reds are still in first place at all is a bloody miracle.

And look out Braves and Mets... the Phillies are starting to figure it out.



I will do my midseason evaluation soon, but going into the All Star Break, I still don't buy 4 of the 6 division leaders.



I think the Phillies will bypass the Braves.

The Reds could be crumbling.

I still don't see how the Padres are in first and the Rockies will probably soon overtake them.

And oh yeah, the Rangers are discovering even a complete game from Cliff Lee doesn't guarantee a win.

There's lots to talk about... and once I get out work I will.

Who are you and what have you done with the Phillies?

Somewhere the REAL Philadelphia Phillies are bound and gagged in a basement.

The team that was a consensus LOCK to win its 4th straight NL East title and the odds on favorite to win their third straight National League pennant and shoot to the top of the "All Time Greatest Philadelphia Team" list has been replaced.

I think it is an Invasion of the Body Snatchers situation.

A Phillies team devoid of emotion (and talent) has been hatched from pods and placed in the city of Brotherly Love and we have a team stumbling into the last stretch of July looking like an also ran.

Seriously, this was the team that people thought was built like an American League team, signed up Ryan Howard long term and brought Doc Halladay to Philly.

And now they sit a mere 2 games over .500, 7 games behind the Braves in the NL East and in 6th place in the Wild Card chase.

Is it ALL the injury to Chase Utley?
They are 8-12 since losing him to injury, but even on his last day, the Phillies were 3 1/2 out of first.

On May 17th, the Phillies were in first place with a 5 game lead, looking like they were about to pull away and make a mockery of the NL East race.

Since then, they are 24-32. Only the Diamondbacks, Nationals and Pirates have been worse since then.

And if they lose tomorrow afternoon to the Cardinals and the next day to Colorado (neither an outrageous possibility) then the Phillies will be at even .500 a week before the trade deadline.

If the Phillies lose the next two games and the Marlins win the next two games, then both teams would be tied for third place at an even .500.

The Marlins are supposedly going to shop Dan Uggla, Ricky Nolasco and probably a few more players.

If the two teams are tied, does that mean the Phillies should be trading veteran players? Should they be sellers?

It's tough to say. I still think the Phillies still have a good run in them. I still think that people like Jimmy Rollins (who has been grotesque this year) and Raul Ibanez and Cole Hamels have a hot streak in them.

And my friend Michael Ferraro and I think that Jayson Werth could be dealt to a team that needs a bat (San Francisco anyone) and maybe flip the young player acquired for Werth in exchange for a reliever... and start minor league phenom Domonic Brown.

Maybe a young spark is just what this team needs... that and a reliever or two

Otherwise... find the pods. YOU'RE NEXT!

Up is down... Black is white... The Mets are contending

Here is a series of possible and not improbable events that could happen tomorrow.

Mets rookie Jonathon Niese, coming off a 1 hit shut out in his last start, beats the Indians, one of the worst teams in the American League.

Tampa Bay and the Yankees, the teams with the best records in baseball, win their respective games against Atlanta and Philadelphia.

What would happen if that not exactly outlandish collection of results come true?

The Mets would be alone in First Place in mid June.
And the Phillies would be only 1 game over .500.

I still don't understand how this is happening. And call me crazy, but I'm still not buying the Mets nor would I sell the Phillies.

But holy cow! It's not April anymore... It's not May. We're a month from the All Star break and the team that I compared to a car wreck and two girls one cup has a punchers chance of being in first place in July.

I've been screaming for this team to dismantle. I kind of still think they should.

But then there are the group of imposters wearing Phillies uniforms who can't even win on Roy Halladay' starts anymore.

The one team I thought for sure was going to the playoffs, the Phils, are barely holding their nose above break even while the Mets and the Padres, two teams that I thought had no chance, are in the thick of it.

I have no clue how the Mets are doing it which is why I still think they'll collapse and the Phillies when the dust all settles, will be playing in October.

Then again I thought Tampa was going to fold in 2008.

The world is upside down.

Admit it... you thought Lidge was going to blow it

I didn't get a chance to watch much of the Sox game today. We were running errands and my sports watching time allotment was going to be devoted to the Celtics/Lakers game (more on that later.)

But I checked my phone while my wife, kids and I were at the Ikea in Burbank and I saw the Sox were losing in the 9th but rallying... and Brad Lidge was brought in to close.

I had a wonderful feeling of glee overwhelm me. It smelled like a walk off win.

But alas this was NOT the 2009 model Brad Lidge.

Did he sign a new deal with the devil?

Who knows? But the Sox didn't sweep... and they could have.
So let's update the tally.

DODGED A BULLET GAMES - 20

April 4 - 9-7 win against Yankees (On Opening Night, the Red Sox overcome a 5-1 Yankee lead with a game tying HR by Pedroia and a go ahead passed ball.)
April 10 - 8-3 win against Kansas City (Beckett out pitches Zack Greinke and nearly gets decapitated by a line drive.)
April 14 - 6-3 win in Minnesota. (Okajima gets Morneau to pop up with the bases loaded in the 7th and Papelbon wiggled out of a 9th inning jam.)
April 20 - 7-6 win against Texas. (Darnell McDonald introduces himself to Boston with an 8th inning game tying homer and a walk off hit in the 9th.)
April 21 - 8-7 win against Texas. (The Red Sox were down 4-0 early only to win it on Youk's 2 out 11th inning double.)
April 23 - 4-3 win against Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 3-0 lead but win it on Adrian Beltre's bases loaded walk.)

April 24 - 7-6 win against Baltimore. (The Red Sox score 6 in the 7th and hold off a late Baltimore comeback attempt.)
April 26 - 13-12 win at Toronto. (The Sox blow an early 5-0 lead but hang on for dear life in a slugfest.)
April 27 - 2-1 win at Toronto. (Buchholz holds the Jays down for 8 but it takes a bases loaded walk in the 8th to go ahead.)
April 28 - 2-0 win at Toronto. (Daniel Bard wiggles out of trouble in the 8th to help Lester shut down the Blue Jays and finish the sweep.)
May 4 - 5-1 win against the Angels. (Juan Rivera misplays Jeremy Hermedia's 2 out flyball into a 3 run game winning double)
May 5 - 3-1 win against the Angels. (Papi and Beltre homer and the Sox hang on despite squandering many potential rallies.)
May 6 - 11-6 win against the Angels. (Dice-K puts the Red Sox in a 4-0 hole before they even bat. The Sox bats respond.)
May 10 - 7-6 win against the Blue Jays. (Sox blow an early 2-0 lead, take advantage of some errors and hang on.)
May 18 - 7-5 win in New York. (Sox climb back from a 5-1 hole. A day after hitting a walk off homer, Marcus Thames drops a fly ball to start the winning rally for the Sox.)
May 25 - 2-0 win in Tampa. (Big Papi supplies all the offense as Papelbon wiggles out of a 9th inning jam.)
May 29 - 1-0 win against Kansas City. (Zack Greinke holds the Sox to one run, but they make it stick)

June 1 - 9-4 win against Oakland. (Lackey puts the Sox in a 4-0 hole but Victor Martinez goes 5-5 and the Sox score 9 runs late.)
June 2 - 6-4 win against Oakland. (Dice-K puts the Sox in a 3-0 hole before they come to bat, but come back thanks to Papi's homer.)

June 8 - 3-2 win at Cleveland. (With Papelbon unavailable, Okajima, Ramirez and Bard hang on to make a winner out of Wakefield.)

TEETH GRINDER GAMES - 19

April 6 - 6-4 loss against the Yankees. (Scutaro's error leads to the winning run.)
April 7 - 3-1 loss against the Yankees. (Sox leave the winning run on in the 9th only to lose on Granderson's 10th inning homer)
April 9 - 4-3 loss in Kansas City. (Bard coughs up the lead, denying Wakefield a win.)
April 17 - 3-1 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Sox can't score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the 11th... lost it in the 12th.)
April 17 - 6-5 loss to Tampa Bay. (The Red Sox comeback falls a run short, leaving two on in the 8th)
April 25 - 7-6 loss to Baltimore. (The Sox blow a 4-1 lead, leave the winning run on second in the 9th, let up 3 in the 10th and could only score 2 in the bottom of the 10th)
April 30 - 5-4 loss in Baltimore. (Tejada ties the game with a 2 out 8th inning homer and wins it with a bloop in the 10th)
May 1 - 12-9 loss in Baltimore. (Dice-K and Wakes get pounded, wasting 2 homers from Ortiz and an early 4-1 lead.)
May 2 - 3-2 loss in Baltimore. (Varitek is thrown at home trying to score with 2 outs in the 8th. Sox get swept in the 10th.
May 12 - 3-2 loss against the Blue Jays. (The Sox rally in the 9th comes up a run short and Kevin Gregg gets an ugly save.)
May 15 - 7-6 loss in Detroit. (The Sox blow a 6-1 lead and lose it on a 2 out bases loaded walk in the 12th.)
May 17 - 11-9 loss in New York. (The Sox come all the way back from a 5-0 first inning hole to take a 9-7 lead in the 9th... but Papelbon lets up a 2 run game tying shot to A-Rod and a 2 run walk off shot to Marcus Thames.)
May 21 - 5-1 loss in Philadelphia. (Big Papi's bid for a game tying 9th inning grand slam is caught at the warning track.)
May 27 - 4-3 loss to Kansas City. (Dice-K walks the go ahead run in and lets another score on a wild pitch as the Royals no name bullpen shut down the Hot Sox.)
May 28 - 12-5 loss to Kansas City. (Sox blow a 3-0 first inning lead to be blown out in Fenway.)
June 3 - 9-8 loss to Oakland. (Sox lose a slugfest where two Boston runners are thrown out at home.)

June 6 - 4-3 loss in Baltimore. (Sox rally to tie the game in the 9th only to lose it on a small ball rally in the 11th.)

June 10 - 8-7 loss in Cleveland. (Sox blow an early 5-0 lead and then after rallying in the 9th to take the lead coughed it up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th)
June 13 - 5-3 loss to Philadelphia. (Sox 9th inning rally comes up short)

All the way down to +1.

A day off tomorrow and on Tuesday I might be distracted. There's a little basketball game in LA.

Cliff Lee is holding up his end of the bargain

If the Mariners want to get top value for Cliff Lee, then they need Lee to pitch like an elite ace. Well pitching a complete game shutout against a team that started in night in first place should do the trick.

It was a 1-0 complete game shutout... as in he was able to pitch the whole game even though it was a save situation! I didn't know managers were allowed to do that anymore!

Lee should fetch a nice ransom. Whether it will match what Seattle gave up to get Cliff Lee is up in the air.

The deal that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies and Cliff Lee to the Mariners was so complicated that I think A.C. Milan and the Republic of Ghana were somehow involved.

But in terms of players surrendered, the Mariners gave up three 21 year old players to acquire Lee.

Starting pitcher Phillippe Aumont, who currently is not doing well at AA Reading.
Starting pitcher Juan Ramirez, who is having a mediocre year in A Clearwater.
Outfielder Tyson Gillies, who isn't exactly tearing up AA Reading.

If the Philles offered those three guys back for Lee, I wouldn't make the deal.

So if the Mariners could flip Lee for a better big league bet than the law firm of Aumont, Ramirez and Gillies, then in the end the Lee deal would have been a good one.

They need a buyer and they need to have a kick ass product.

And Lee has done HIS part.

Hey Interleague play haters... you've got NOTHING

As I wrote earlier, only morons criticize Interleague play.

I don't always respect other people's arguments and opinions if their arguments and opinions are baseless.

I don't respect Intelligent Design supporters. I don't respect the Birther movement. I don't respect the people who say Interleague Play is bad for baseball.

And among the argument flung at me like a simian tossing their waste was how unfair it is. "The Yankees get to play the Astros but the Red Sox have to play the Phillies. IT'S NOT FAIR!"

Well here's a way to counter act that injustice... just like the Sox did in May... WIN THE GAMES!

The Sox took have taken 4 out of 5 from the Phillies so far this year and will look to make it 5 of 6 tomorrow.

It's so unfair... for the PHILLIES.

Nonsense.

Complete and utter nonsense.

Ryan! You don't get hurt AFTER the Trade Deadline!!

Seriously... if you are going to go on the DL, make sure it is on July 30th or before. What good does it do on August 1st?

Anytime between opening day and July 31st, the Phillies can easily make a deal and BOOM! They have another star first baseman.

But now the Phillies are without their big guy in the middle of their lineup and the immortal Ross Gload will be starting at first base.

If Howard had done this a few days earlier, maybe Lance Berkman would be there... or maybe the guy covering first base on the play that sidelined Howard, Adam Dunn.

But noooooo....

Just remember people: TIME YOUR INJURIES!

Phillies fans... you are welcome

Back on July 22nd, I wrote about how the Phillies were playing so poorly that I accused them of being pod people, replacing the actual Phillies with soul less replicants.

They were a mere 2 games over .500 and were in danger of hitting break even if they lost to St. Louis and Colorado.

And they were 7 games back of the Braves. They were dead in the water when I called them out.

What's their record since that 5-1 loss to St. Louis?

13-2.

Granted one of those wins was aided by a horrible call in Florida the other night

But in just a little more than 2 weeks, the Phillies have nearly made up a week of games. And it can't all be attributed to the Roy Oswalt trade. They started this tear before his arrival.

I think the Phillies read my post and finally woke up and played as they are capable of doing.

And now I think they will take the division under their arm and run away with it.

I'll take the credit.

I can't think of any other reason for the turn around.

You are welcome.

I should get a playoff share.

Only idiots are against instant replay in baseball

Yup.
It has come to this.

Name calling.

I've written about Instant Replay several times and it isn't worth rehashing EVERYTHING. But tonight's travesty just got me fired up again.

The Marlins won the game tonight beating the Phillies in the 9th.

Except they didn't because of a blown call reversed a walk off hit.

It's kind of like how the Giants won a game a few weeks ago... except that they didn't because of the blown call on the final play.

In a year with so many tight races in the National League, a game could be all that keeps the Giants out of the playoffs.

Or maybe the Phillies sneak in by a game.

Exactly what is it going to take for the anti Instant Replay dolts to come around?

We've had a perfect game taken away from a pitcher.

We've had blown calls left and right in the 2009 post season.

Will it take a walk off hit in the post season being taken away?

Seriously, opponents of Instant Replay, what would have happened if tonight's grotesque call by Bob Davidson had taken place in the Division Series... or the NLCS... or the World Series?

Is that what it will take to get some sort of replay system in place?

And as always the whole "it will slow down the pace of the game" argument is not only nonsense and asinine, but is untrue.

The replay showed that Davidson's call was dead wrong while Marlins manager Edwin Rodriguez was still on the field arguing.

So time WAS wasted on the call... and it was truly wasted because nothing was done or could be done.

Davidson can only arrogantly shake his head no, dead certain that he got the call right... only to have every single replay showing over and over again that Davidson's confidence is unfounded.

Once again, the rest of the planet has access to the undeniable truth that the call was blown except the one person who could use the information to... and please brace yourself for this outlandish idea... GET THE CALL RIGHT!

I am DYING to hear a valid argument against instant replay.

I am guessing I'm not going to hear them.