MLB to begin using replay Sept. 1

[Kevy Baby]

Report: MLB to begin using replay Sept. 1
All sides agree that system will only be used on HR boundary calls for now

Barring a problem with technical issues, baseball will introduce instant replay around Sept. 1, a source told Sporting News on Thursday morning

Replay discussions involving the commissioner's office, the players' association and umpires union have been taking place for weeks. All sides appear to be in agreement about how replay will be used — only on home run boundary calls -- and how it will be implemented. There will be a so-called war room in New York where a technician will provide video feeds to monitors set up for umpires at all 30 parks.

The whole story.


Bah!

[Alex]

Home Run boundary calls are really the only situation in which I truly don't care if they use replay. Any expansion though and I'll kick their ass.

[Ghoulish Delight]

ditto

[Tom]

It seems odd to me that they would introduce it near the end of the season. I would think it would make more sense to bring it in next year and let the kinks get worked out in spring training and through the regular season rather than during the pennant races and playoffs.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Tom

It seems odd to me that they would introduce it near the end of the season. I would think it would make more sense to bring it in next year and let the kinks get worked out in spring training and through the regular season rather than during the pennant races and playoffs.

They must be fearing a mistake during the playoffs. With the anomaly this year of there being several missed calls, people are scrutinizing the calls right now. It'd be a PR nightmare (as lame as it is) if, during this post season, they miss a call.

[Alex]

Though of course, with two extra umpires it is even less likely that they'd make a mistake during the playoffs.

I figure it doesn't really matter when they start. It is a review that is needed so rarely (I'm sure it'll be used more often simply because it is there than because it is needed on an individual call) that even if they waited until the beginning of next season it could be months before it had a serious impact.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Originally Posted by Alex

Though of course, with two extra umpires it is even less likely that they'd make a mistake during the playoffs.

Yup, but then, the people who like to claim that replay is necessary aren't prone to such logic.