According to Commissionner Bud Selig's announcement, the plan includes the following features:
» 3 Challenges per game, per team, split into 1 challenge for innings 1-6 and 2 for innings 7 and beyond.
» Plays other than HBP/foul and balls/strikes calls will be eligible for review. To initiate a review, the manager will file a challenge with either the home plate umpire or crew chief. Final decisions would be routed through the crew chief.
» When a challenge is filed, the umpires will contact MLB HQ in NY, which will make the final ruling. » Working the review room will be a to-be-named-later "crew" comprised of persons with umpiring experience who may be retired or active.
» Any play that would otherwise be reviewable via instant replay cannot be argued
» Any play that would otherwise not be reviewable via instant replay can still be argued.
» The HR review process will remain the same with review conducted in-Stadium.
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| Review may now run straight through New York MLB HQ. |
The proposal still awaits approval from three key stakeholders, who all will discuss and vote on the item this offseason. The owners must approve the plan with a 75 percent vote while both the players' association and World Umpires Association also must agree to any deviation from the current system of review on home run and boundary calls.
If all goes according to plan, umpires will begin receiving training in the new system during the 2013 Arizona Fall League and 2014 Spring Training periods.
The latest instant replay proposal follows consecutive years of failure to expand the system, despite extensive testing, proposals and statements to the contrary.
In February, Torre admitted replay would not expand in 2013, putting off the decision to "next year." Torre's statement followed a Bud Selig mid-2012 interview during which the Commissioner stated he envisioned a 2013 expansion to catch vs. trap plays and fair/foul bullets down the line.
Prior to the 2012 season, a proposed labor deal including expanded instant replay review failed to pass despite a proposed labor deal to expand the technology to cover fair/foul and catch/no catch calls.
The latest instant replay proposal follows consecutive years of failure to expand the system, despite extensive testing, proposals and statements to the contrary.
In February, Torre admitted replay would not expand in 2013, putting off the decision to "next year." Torre's statement followed a Bud Selig mid-2012 interview during which the Commissioner stated he envisioned a 2013 expansion to catch vs. trap plays and fair/foul bullets down the line.
Prior to the 2012 season, a proposed labor deal including expanded instant replay review failed to pass despite a proposed labor deal to expand the technology to cover fair/foul and catch/no catch calls.
Added Selig, "it's a historic day."
