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I know it's early to be starting this, but I saw this today and it applies to the 2014 season.

MLB Approves Instant Replay

Quote:

Originally Posted by News

Managers will be able to challenge plays, similar to the NFL. But contrary to early reports that each team would receive three challenges per game, the plan approved would give them either one or two, with a successful appeal allowing them to keep their challenge.

Replays will be handled by a central control room at MLB Advanced Media's headquarters in New York. COO Rob Manfred said the replay officials will be former or current umpires, or at least "people with extensive umpiring experience."

Umpires will communicate with replay officials via headset, presumably in or near the clubhouse tunnel. This would appear to indicate that the on-field umpires won't actually see the replays themselves, allowing them to tell still-furious managers, "hey, that's what New York said."

Managers will not be allowed to challenge certain plays. Boundary calls on home runs are already covered under MLB's bare-bones replay system, and whether to send those to New York to be looked at will remain up to the discretion of umpires.

Balls and strikes and checked swings, the ultimate in judgment calls, will not be reviewable. Everything else appears to be on the table, including the recently controversial "neighborhood play" at second base.

MLB is considering how to stop teams from stalling until they can see TV replays, thereby allowing them to only challenge calls with a high probability of being overturned. The current thinking, Manfred said, is to not allow managers to argue calls before challenging them. A noble idea, but ballplayers are masters of stalling.

In regards to the last part I can see it really slowing down the game if one team or the other delays the game in order to review every close play.

Yes, it got approved earlier in the season.

I found it ironic that the World Series was filled with close plays that had direct impact on the outcome of games...all of which the umpires seemed to either get right initially, or successfully confer and end up at the correct call without the aid of replay.

I don't care either way. I'm ok with using replay to get it right and I'm ok with saying that human umpires will get it wrong sometime and that is part of the game.

But if you're going to allow managers to challenge plays I think it is stupid to put a limit on how many. Let them challenge however many they want and give umpires the ability to say "oh, shut the **** up already" if they think it is egregious.

I do look forward to the strategic use of remaining challenges to make time for someone warming up in the bullpen.

And I don't look forward to the drama over umpires having to make judgment calls about what would have happened if the call had initially been correct.

Picture this: Line drive down third, right on the chalk. Third baseman makes spectacular diving catch that will still only be a 50/50 play at first. But third base ump calls it foul and third baseman never makes the throw (or he throws but first baseman sees the foul call so steps off the bag to catch it). His manager challenges and replay shows it was fair. What do you do?

I assume this is all being worked through but it seems to me there are going to be a lot of ambiguous cases. If everything on the bases was automatic we wouldn't make them run.

Though what I'd like to see some manager do is use all of his challenges to force umpires to call batters on being outside the back of the batter's box.

I'm getting this in early, I'm sure there will be more reminders as we get closer..

Save the Date:

Monday September 1st 2014
Washington Nationals at LA Dodgers with Me.

We'll get some nice upper deck seats with a good view of LA to watch my Nats get squashed.

Calendar marked. Game time is 5:10 PDT for those who care.

If you're lucky, maybe you'll see Kershaw spit the bit (again) in the home stretch under the weight of that $30 million saddle.

Let the games begin.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner (Post 370800)

Save the Date:

Monday September 1st 2014
Washington Nationals at LA Dodgers with Me.

Don't hesitate on getting your tix.

Nice to see the Dodgers are in mid-season form so quickly. 2 games into Sprint Training, 2 leg strain injuries. Awesome!

Nothing like staying up until 1am to watch the opening game, only to see the words "rain delay". Thanks Australia. :rolleyes:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonliner (Post 370800)

Looks like I may have spoken too soon. If this article is correct and MLB is forcing fans to go through metal detectors at all stadiums I will NOT be playing a part in their security theater.