Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Blown calls by umpires in Major League Baseball’s postseason are part of the game and shouldn’t open the door to instant replay, the head of the officials’ union said.

Using video to review plays such as tags and whether a ball is fair or foul would interfere with the pace of games and turn umpires into “robots,” according to Lamell McMorris, chief negotiator for the World Umpires Association.

McMorris said he and the union remain opposed to expanding use of replays, even after television video has shown several cases of umpires making the wrong calls since MLB’s postseason started two weeks ago. Three blown calls occurred in last night’s 10-1 win by the New York Yankees over the Los Angeles Angels in Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.

“Not only is pace of game an issue but the continued expansion of replay potentially takes away from the spirit of the game,” McMorris said today in a telephone interview. “Part of the game is the potential for human error, not just from umpires, but players, that’s part of the spirit of the game. It happens.”

During the Yankees’ win, second base umpire Dale Scott called New York’s Nick Swisher safe on a pickoff play in the fourth inning. Replays on television showed that Angels shortstop Erick Aybar tagged Swisher before he was able to get back to the base.

Later that inning, crew chief Tim McClelland called Swisher out for leaving third base too soon on a Johnny Damon fly ball to center field, resulting in an inning-ending double play. Television replays appeared to show that Swisher didn’t leave early.

Call From ‘Heart’

“In my heart, I thought he left too early,” McClelland said after the game. “But replays show that he didn’t.”

One inning later, McClelland was at the center of an unusual rundown play involving New York’s Jorge Posada and Robinson Cano. After Angels catcher Mike Napoli ran Posada back to third base, he tagged both Posada and Cano, who was standing just off third. McClelland ruled that only Posada was out.

McClelland said he thought Cano was on the base.

“I did not see that for whatever reason,” the umpire said. “I’m just out there trying to do my job and do it the best I can. Unfortunately, there were two missed calls.”

The Yankees benefited from a blown call in the first round of the playoffs against Minnesota, when left-field ump Phil Cuzzi called a ball hit by the Twins’ Joe Mauer foul. TV replays showed the ball was fair by a foot.

Replay Use

Baseball allows umpires to use replays to review and overturn calls on whether a ball clear the outfield fence for a home run. Umpires also routinely review replays of close calls after games, and McMorris is opposed to allowing for such reviews during play.

“Unless you guys are going to put robots out there, we’re all subject to the human whims,” he said. “That’s part of the deal. We’re part of the video-game culture where we think we can control every outcome.”

As for whether umpires who make such mistakes should lose the opportunity to work during the World Series, McMorris said that decision is up to baseball officials.

“We hope that every umpire would be judged fairly, not just by one call, but their performance overall,” McMorris said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael Buteau in Atlanta at mbuteau@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 21, 2009 15:20 EDT