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The Front Row with JASON ELLIOTT September 18, 2010

| September 18, 2010 9:00 PM

Whether you love or hate him - the actions of shortstop Derek Jeter in Tuesday's game between the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays opened a few eyes to a lingering problem in major league baseball.

JETER AND the rest of his New York Yankee teammates are right in the middle of one of the best pennant races of the baseball season for the American League East Division title. The Yankees and Rays exchanged the division lead twice during a three-game series earlier this week, with another series looming next week at Yankee Stadium.

On Tuesday night, while hitting late in the game, Jeter acted as if a pitch hit him, when replays showed that the ball had hit the knob of his bat, and should have been ruled a foul ball.

Instead, Jeter was awarded first base, which didn't end up mattering as the Rays won the game to regain the AL East lead.

Regardless of the situation, chances are it will happen again in the near future.

What Jeter did was trying to help his team win - at whatever cost it took.

Unfortunately for them, it didn't this time - but who knows, if they've got other tricks up their sleeves, they may become tough to beat.

Had it been the playoffs, there is a good chance the umpires may have taken a second look at the play, or when Jeter came up to hit again, the pitcher may have made sure he earned his base and just threw at him.

Regardless, there is a really good chance that the Yankees and Rays could play again in October to determine the American League championship, so it won't be forgotten anytime soon.

WHAT JETER did was something that I've come to expect when rival teams play each other with so much on the line.

This is the main reason why I feel that replay in baseball is needed sooner, rather than later.

Whether it is a home run or fan interference, it is very important in the month of October to get all the calls correct - and leave nothing to debate when it comes to determining the champion.

Most teams have earned a right to play in the playoffs by having a great season, so why cheat them in their 165th game if it means that much.

The black eye surrounding baseball may begin to swell a little more had the Jeter incident happened in Game 7 of the World Series. Replay or no replay, fans may as well get settled for some of the craziest baseball they'll see in the coming weeks.

Considering that five of the eight races are far from over, expect teams to try anything to stay in the hunt for the playoffs.

Jason Elliott is a sports writer for the Coeur d'Alene Press. He can be reached via telephone at 664-8176, Ext. 2020, or by e-mail at jelliott@cdapress.com.