Starting next week, MLB umpires will be wearing microphones on the field in the event that a situation for a replay or challenge arises at any point during a game.
Thus far, it appears that most people around the league see this as a welcome change and a step in the right direction for the game of baseball.
Detroit Tigers manager AJ Hinch is one of the many people around the game who is on board with this chance.
Hinch agrees with the popular consensus that this will be a step forward for baseball, though he did mention that some umpires he has spoken to about the situation are slightly nervous about the change.
Tigers manager AJ Hinch on umps getting on the mic during replays: "I think opening up communication with the fans is a step in the right direction. It'll become mainstream, very fast."
Says the umps he's talked with are kind of nervous about it.— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) April 1, 2022
Changes Coming For MLB
Most people around the game of baseball seem to be in favor of this change, believing that it will help MLB fans get a better understanding of what is going on during replay situations, as it can be confusing when it is not clear what is being discussed.
Referees in the National Football League wear microphones on the field to announce flags, penalties, replays, and challenges during games, and this appears to be the direction that MLB is headed in for 2022 and beyond.
Of course, we’ll have to see how the so-called baseball “purists” react to such a change.
Though this isn’t an extremely drastic change, it is a change nonetheless that will give baseball a slightly different look that it has had in recent years.
The change goes into effect next week.
Opening Day is on Thursday, April 7, which will be the first time we see umpires wearing microphones on the field.
It remains to be seen what the initial reaction will be to this change.
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