Baseball Set To Expand Instant Replay
ORLANDO (CBSMiami) - One of baseball's ongoing dilemmas is how to speed the game up for modern fans. But a new plan may actually make an average game even longer.
Major League Baseball says it's virtually certain all the new systems for expanded instant replay will be in place for opening day.
MLB Executive Vice President Joe Torre met with general managers Tuesday and said he expects approval from owners, players and umpires by January.
"We expect to be all on the same page by the time we need to have it," he said.
Virtually all umpires' calls other than balls and strikes, checked swings and some foul tips will be reviewable. The system was tested last week during Arizona Fall League games, with two major league umpires reviewing video and making the final call.
Owners are expected to give their go-ahead Thursday for funding and then approve the rules when they meet in January.
Baseball started using video review in 2008, but it was strictly limited to whether a home run ball went over the fence or was a foul ball.
Starting next year, calls that are challenged will be reviewed at a central location, similar to the way the National Hockey League carries out reviews.
Most reviews during the Arizona test averaged 1 minute, 40 seconds.
On another matter, there will be no change to baseball's obstruction rule, which gave St. Louis a controversial 5-4 win over Boston in Game 3 of the World Series last month.
