If you’ve been watching the playoffs lately, you might be tempted to ask why they don’t have instant replay in baseball.

Case 1: In game 2 of the ALCS, White Sox batter A.J. Pierzynski swung on a low third strike that was then caught by Angels catcher Josh Paul. Doug Eddings, the home-plate umpire, signaled the out… and a few seconds later, Pierzynski bolts towards 1st base. For some reason, Eddings reneged on his original call after Paul had turned to head into the dugout and the White Sox went on the score the winning run.

A quick look at video of the pitch would have remedied the situation and the right decision would have been clear.

Case 2: I’ll hand it to Steve Safran of Lost Remote for the play-by-play of this one: “Bottom of the second, Angels have men on first and third and they are down 3-1. Angels’ CF Steve Finley swings at a pitch and his bat clearly hits the catcher’s glove. The play unfolds as a double play, and the White Sox get out of a jam. BUT… The replay shows the catcher’s glove folding over as it comes in contact with the bat - and that’s interference by the catcher. No question. Finley should have been awarded first base, and the bases would have been loaded with one out.”

So, why don’t the MLB owners chip in for TiVo and put controversy to rest. For one, fans, especially casual ones, have been complaining about the length of games for years. With all of the close calls that occur over the course of a baseball game, you’d have to tack on at least another 20 minutes per game.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but baseball is the only sport where an official makes such a vital call on every play. If we instituted the instant replay for caught balls and close tags, the question would be why don’t we use it call balls and strikes?

Human judgement and human error are all part of the sport. Just like you’ve got to adjust your swing depending on the pitch, you’ve got to adjust you strike zone depending on who’s behind the plate.

If baseball had instant replay, we wouldn’t managers charging on the field and laying into umpires. The arguments… the tempers… some of the most dramatic moments of the game would be gone. We wouldn’t be talking about game 2 of the ALCS after the series ended. And we wouldn’t have posts like this from White Sox fans who don’t believe the videotape.

Foxsports.com: Baseball, instant replay … not a winning pair

Web coverage of the ALCS