Johan Santana forced to cover up logo on glove
WASHINGTON -- Johan Santana wasn't rattled by the latest odd moment for a Mets starter, but it certainly seemed like a bit of gamesmanship from the Nationals' dugout when plate umpire Brian Runge requested that Santana cover up the gold logo on the back of his glove before the start of the third inning Friday night.
"Never had that one happen before," said Santana, who waited a couple of extra minutes while a team staffer put blue tape over the logo. Santana retired the side in order in the third.
Collins spent the two-minute delay jawing with Runge and crew chief Ted Barrett, no doubt some lingering effects from Wednesday's request from the umpiring crew in Cincinnati that R.A. Dickey remove the friendship bracelets his daughters had made for him. Dickey lost that one, too.
Replay tests on tap
Collins used to be against instant replay of any kind. With an online report that Major League Baseball will be testing two different kinds of replay systems next week to determine fair or foul balls within the field of play -- the cameras are installed at Yankee Stadium and Citi Field -- Collins is all for expanding replay now.
"I thought this was a game played by human beings who make mistakes," Collins said. "But now, the technology is so good, it can happen so fast, you might as well use it. Get the calls right. With what's happening now, tough calls can change the course of a pennant race."
According to a Yahoo! report, MLB will be testing out a radar-based system and a camera-based system, both similar to the technology used in Grand Slam tennis events. They will be tested during games but not used for official replays, which are currently limited to home-run calls and fan interference.
Collins has no issue with the amount of time needed to check replays. "It's minuscule," he said. "It would take a lot less time to go look at a replay than it does to go out and argue a call. So why not get it right."
