MLB 2014

[Moonliner]

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

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.