Ever since the first professional umpire was hired in 1876 to officiate a baseball game, the men in blue have been an integral part of America's pastime.

The are the ultimate arbiters of every play on the diamond. What they see with their own two eyes constitutes the official version of each game.

Until this week. Starting Thursday, Major League Baseball will allow video replay to determine whether fans interfere with play, whether home runs actually are, and whether fly balls are fair or foul. We believe this call is for the betterment of the game.

While many find baseball to be too slow-paced, the action actually takes place at break-neck speed. The important role umpires play in determining exactly what happens on the field is complicated by the distance between themselves and the event requiring an immediate ruling.

This year has been particularly rough for the umps, as a number of calls on home runs have been blown. The assistance of video replay should help.

"Every team can go home and sleep better at night if they know the call was right," said Oakland player Frank Thomas.

That's all fans and players want -- correct calls. Major League Baseball should not think using replays is a sign of weakness. Commissioner Bud Selig should embrace the concept as another tool to help improve the game. Twenty-five of baseball's 30 general managers voted last year to approve the change with that in mind.

MLB is the last holdout amongst the major sports in the United States to utilize video replays. The NFL has been using it since 1986. The NHL jumped on board in 1991 and the NBA in 2002.

Welcome to the 21st century, Major League Baseball -- even if you had to drag your commissioner along.

"Any time you try to change something in baseball, it's both emotional and difficult," Selig said. "There's been some concern that, well, if you start here, look what it's going to lead to. Not as long as I'm the commissioner."

We would hope Selig will have a change of heart once the initial phase of replay has played out. There are a few blown calls on the base paths and in the outfield as well.

And if the commissioner and Major League Baseball really wants to remove fan interference from the game, they could look to the examples set by the other dominant sports. Basketball installed backboards to prevent fans from swatting at shots. Hockey protects spectators and provides physical separation with glass walls. Football fans only make contact with players when the players themselves leap into the stands. All one needs is a barrier or distance between fans and the field of play.

It's OK, commissioner, to improve the integrity of the game. MLB scores a win with the video replay decision.

Editorial by Patrick Lowry

plowry@dailynews.net