MLB to Exapnd Instant Replay in 2014 - UPDATE

[MD Longhorn]

You know, I recall this same resistance from football officials when they first fixed their game by adding replay.

[grunewar]

ESPN's PTI discussed how it may be better to have these challenges at "baseball central" so MLB could call what to challenge in the game, vice "coaches challenges." Rationale being, what happens if you're OUT of challenges and there's a controversial play in the 13th inning?

They also mentioned how this might "quicken" the game as managers wouldn't "waste so much time" arguing calls. That was interesting.

[tmagan]

A couple of questions:

1) Bottom of sixth, two out, close play at first, runner ruled out to end of inning, right after the opposing pitcher throws his eight pitches, the manager comes out and challenges the call saying he was safe. Is the challenge allowed, when is the cut off point where challenges aren't allowed?

2) What is the standard for overruling a call. When a call that should be overturned isn't, who in the Commissioner's Office will take the blame?

[UMP25]

I like this article's take on it.

Why not have a 5th umpiring crew member at each ballpark be responsible for replay review in an expanded format? Makes better sense than the new, proposed policy.

[tmagan]

Here is another situation:

Runner at third, bottom of the ninth two out tied game, ground ball to third, runner holds, on the throw to first the runner at third breaks for home, the play at first is ruled out, extra innings. However home team manager challenges and the call is overturned, but the runner at third, who was halfway to home when the batter is ruled out, does he score? The first baseman could say if the first base umpire had ruled the batter safe, he would have then throw home to retire the runner trying to score.

[DadofTwins]

Another question -- Does it have to be a "call" to be reviewed? That is, can a manager challenge a "no call" on, say, a possible balk?

[PeteBooth]

This is the infant stage for replay and IMO, rule changes / adjustments will most likely follow:

In the play you presented I could see a rule amendment that said something along the lines of: if a call is overturned, all runners return to their TOP base unless forced to advance as a result of the over-turned call. To me that's fair because without replay the game would have gone to extra innings, it still might but at least the offense has another "shot" to win whereas without replay they wouldn't.

Pete Booth

[Publius]

Originally Posted by tmagan

Here is another situation:

Runner at third, bottom of the ninth two out tied game, ground ball to third, runner holds, on the throw to first the runner at third breaks for home, the play at first is ruled out, extra innings. However home team manager challenges and the call is overturned, but the runner at third, who was halfway to home when the batter is ruled out, does he score? The first baseman could say if the first base umpire had ruled the batter safe, he would have then throw home to retire the runner trying to score.

They aren't going to use challenges in U10 baseball, which is about the highest level you'll see R3 do that in the situation you described.

[voiceoflg]

One thing I would like to see is IR cause fewer arguments. On a bang/bang play, if the manager comes out the umpire would say "are you requesting a challenge? If not, get back to the dugout." That way as the game is slowed down by challenges, it is sped up by the lack of unchallenged arguments.

[johnnyg08]

Originally Posted by UMP25

I like this article's take on it.

Why not have a 5th umpiring crew member at each ballpark be responsible for replay review in an expanded format? Makes better sense than the new, proposed policy.

Far more expensive than simply having them at a central location in New York. For all practical purposes they could review the plays from their home.

Heck, that's what we all do.

To have a 5th umpire traveling w/ all of the crews is not practical or cost efficient.

[Manny A]

Originally Posted by UMP25

I like this article's take on it.

From the article:

"Schuerholz said that 89 percent of umpires’ calls — including apparently all safe/out calls — would be reviewable. The 11 percent of “unreviewable” plays includes balls and strikes and whether or not a pitch hit a batter."

Really? I wonder why that's untouchable as well? I vividly recall when Derek Jeter sold a HBP where replays clearly showed the ball hitting the knob of his bat. Why not allow a challenge for that? That's as much a potential game-changer as a missed pulled foot call at first base, which, like a HBP, may be tough to see even with replay (assuming that's the reason to not allow a challenge for that).

[UES]

Originally Posted by Manny A

From the article:

"Schuerholz said that 89 percent of umpires’ calls — including apparently all safe/out calls — would be reviewable. The 11 percent of “unreviewable” plays includes balls and strikes and whether or not a pitch hit a batter."

Really? I wonder why that's untouchable as well? I vividly recall when Derek Jeter sold a HBP where replays clearly showed the ball hitting the knob of his bat. Why not allow a challenge for that? That's as much a potential game-changer as a missed pulled foot call at first base, which, like a HBP, may be tough to see even with replay (assuming that's the reason to not allow a challenge for that).

I totally agree - why isn't HBP included? A few years back, Brandon Inge (playing on the Tigers) got grazed by a pitch with the bases loaded... it would have forced in the go-ahead run. The HP umpire did not see the ball barely nick Inge's jersey and replays showed that it should have been ruled a HBP. Tigers went on to lose the game in extra innings.

[Welpe]

Originally Posted by MD Longhorn

You know, I recall this same resistance from football officials when they first fixed their game by adding replay.

I'm not a fan of replay in football, either. I know that puts me in the minority. Football is not baseball. Baseball already is struggling with pace of play, I really worry what this could do.