Expanded instant replay is officially coming to Major League Baseball in 2014 after team managers unanimously approved the idea which will also increase the manager’s ability to challenge umpire calls. The MLB Players Association and World Umpires Associations also approved the expansion.
Official announcement: MLB clubs unanimously approve instant replay expansion.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal also passed along commissioner Bud Selig’s thoughts on the expansion:
Selig on replay: “My father told me life is nothing but a series of adjustments. I made an adjustment.”
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 14, 2013
According to the new guidelines, Managers will have at least one challenge per game. However if a manager is successful in challenging the play they will be granted one more challenge during that current game. However no manager will be able to challenge more than two plays during the course of the given 9 innings.
MLB Public Relations also released a set of plays that will be reviewable during the 2014 season:
Full details on how the new instant replay process will work: pic.twitter.com/O8gYgBv0eH
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) January 16, 2014
The following play types will be subject to review: pic.twitter.com/TDYPQfm7tw
— MLB Public Relations (@MLB_PR) January 16, 2014
However according to Jon Morosi, the neighborhood play will not be reviewable.
Development in replay talks: At request of MLBPA, source says “neighborhood play” at 2B on double plays likely will NOT be reviewable.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 16, 2014
MLB Executive vice president Joe Torre said the move will likely require some time for everyone to get use to it which will especially be the case for umpires stationed at the Leagues headquarters who will oversee the replays. However you’d have to figure this is a good move for the League and sport in general to finally begin to take advantage of current technology and get the play right. This will also more than likely be successful as well so long as it doesn’t hinder the length of games, something that has been in issue in the past.
