Torre: Expanded Replay Not On Par for Opening Day 2013

MLB will not expand instant replay for the 2013 season, Joe Torre has decreed. The Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations stated that expanded replay will be implemented in 2014: "next year, there will be something, for sure."

Exec. VP Torre: Instant replay will be ready in 2014, "for sure."

Then again, it was MLB Commissioner Bud Selig who, in October, said "I think we'll have it for sure" in response to a reporter's question regarding instant replay for fair/foul and safe/out (catch/trap) situations.

In July of 2012, Selig had also said instant replay expansion was on MLB's horizon. In August, MLB tested expanded replay systems at both New York stadiums.

In December of 2011, a proposed labor deal included expanded replay with fair/foul, catch/trap and perimeter-wide spectator interference provisions. Needless to say, that suggestion failed.

Meanwhile, the NBA Board of Governors—basketball's rules body—approved its own expanded replay in advance of the 2012-13 season, adding two proposals: one for all flagrant fouls and one for goaltending and restricted area calls in the final two minutes.

In May of 2012, the International Rugby Board welcomed its own version of expanded replay while the NFL adopted automatic booth reviews of all turnover plays in addition to the existing-scoring play reviews prior to the 2012 season.

Torre additionally said, "It’s not like we're afraid to do something. I don't want to do something unless we feel like it's the right thing to do."

The former player/manager cited pace-of-game, explaining that MLB still needed to determine how to expand replay without further delaying games. Torre will manage Team USA in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.

News: MLB's Joe Torre on expanded replay: No in 2013, yes in 2014