Behold...Replay is upon us

[scrounge]

MLB Press Release

1/16/2014 2:43 P.M. ET

MLB clubs unanimously approve expansion of instant replay Major League umps will serve as replay officials, who will make final call; All replays may be shown in-park

PARADISE VALLEY, AZ - The 30 Clubs of Major League Baseball have unanimously approved the expansion of instant replay, which will be in effect for the 2014 Championship Season and the 2014 Postseason. The historic announcement was made this afternoon, at the conclusion of MLB's quarterly owners meetings.

            Both the Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires Association have given their consent to the game's new protocols for instant replay.

MLB's new system of instant replay dictates which plays are subject to review, how instant replay will be initiated by field managers and how the review process will be conducted. As a part of the expansion of instant replay, Clubs will now be allowed to show all replays on the ballpark scoreboard, regardless of whether the play was reviewed. 

"I am very pleased that instant replay will expand to include additional impactful plays," Baseball Commissioner Allan H. (Bud) Selig. "The new system will give managers valuable recourse in potentially game-changing situations. The opportunity for our fans to see more replays in our ballparks is also an important modification that the Clubs and I favored.

"I thank the Major League Players and Umpires for their cooperation with this change, which will serve our shared game well. I also extend my gratitude to John Schuerholz, Joe Torre, Tony La Russa, Peter Woodfork and Chris Marinak, all of whom worked extremely hard to make this highly complicated task a reality." 

Managers will have at least one challenge to use. If any portion of a challenged play is overturned, then the manager who challenged the play will retain the ability to challenge one more play during the game. No manager may challenge more than two plays in a game. Once the manager has exhausted his ability to challenge plays during the game and after the beginning of the seventh inning, the Crew Chief may choose to invoke instant replay on any reviewable call. Home run and other boundary calls will remain reviewable under the procedures in place last season.

A designated communication location near home plate will be established at all 30 MLB ballparks. There, the Crew Chief and at least one other Major League Umpire will have access to a hard-wired headset connected to the Replay Command Center, which will remain at MLB Advanced Media headquarters in New York. Major League Umpires will be staffed as Replay Officials at the Replay Command Center. After viewing video feeds, the Replay Official will make the ultimate determination of whether to overturn the call, based on the continuing standard of whether there is clear and convincing evidence.

Instant replay will be utilized during some televised games in Spring Training for the purposes of educating on-field personnel on the rules of the new system.

Other protocols of the new system for instant replay are as follows:

PLAY TYPES

The following play types will be subject to review:

• Home run
• Ground rule double
• Fan interference

• Stadium boundary calls (e.g., fielder into stands, ball into stands triggering dead ball)
• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)
• Tag play (including steals and pickoffs)
• Fair/foul in outfield only
• Trap play in outfield only
• Batter hit by pitch
• Timing play (whether a runner scores before a third out)

• Touching a base (requires appeal)
• Passing runners
• Record keeping (Ball-strike count to a batter, outs, score, and substitutions)

All other plays will not be reviewable; however, the Umpires may still convene on the field at any time to discuss the play.

INITIATION OF INSTANT REPLAY

• Field managers may initiate replay review on one reviewable play per game by verbally indicating his intention to challenge, in a timely manner, to the Crew Chief. Guidelines will be established to determine whether a challenge is timely. 
• The manager may request that the umpire review multiple portions of the same play, but he must specify exactly which portions of the play he is challenging. 
• If any portion of a challenged play is overturned, the manager who challenged the play will retain the ability to challenge one more play during the game. No manager may challenge more than two plays in a game.
• Once the manager has exhausted his ability to challenge plays during the game and after the beginning of the seventh inning, the Crew Chief may choose to invoke instant replay on any reviewable call. In that circumstance, the Crew Chief is not obligated to invoke instant replay if requested by the manager.
• Home run calls that are currently subject to instant replay review will continue to be reviewed at the Crew Chief's discretion. Managers may request that an Umpire review a home run call, but managers cannot challenge home run calls.

REVIEW PROCESS

• Once instant replay review is invoked (either by the Manager or the Crew Chief), the Crew Chief will signal to the official scorer that the play is under review.
• The Crew Chief and at least one other umpire will then move to a designated communication location near home plate, where they will have access to a hard-wired headset connected to the Replay Command Center in New York. 
• Major League Umpires will be staffed as Replay Officials at the Replay Command Center, located at MLB Advanced Media headquarters, for all Major League games.
• The Replay Command Center will have direct access to video from most cameras in the ballpark in real-time, regardless of whether they are shown on the live broadcast. 
• The Replay Official will look at the video feeds and determine if there is clear and convincing evidence to overturn the call on the field. If the Replay Official overturns a call on the field, he will also use his judgment to determine where to appropriately place runners if the play had been called correctly on the field.
• The umpires on the field will not have a monitor to review the play and they will not leave the field at any time.
• The Replay Official will make the ultimate determination of whether to overturn the call.
• On-Field personnel may not argue with the decision of the Replay Official.

CLUB ACCESS TO VIDEO

• To determine whether to challenge a play, personnel in the dugout will be permitted to communicate with a video specialist in the Clubhouse who has access to the same video that is available to Replay Officials. This communication will occur via the dugout phone. 
• Both the home and visiting Clubs will have standardized technology to ensure each Club has equal access to all video.
• No monitors or additional electronic equipment will be permitted in the dugout. 

SCOREBOARD REPLAYS

• Clubs will now have the right to show replays of all close plays on its ballpark scoreboard, regardless of whether the play is reviewed.

[VAUmp]

• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)

Here is my question:  The rule states that there is no review of a fielder touching second base on a double play.  What happens when an umpire makes the "vicinity" call at second, but the relay to first is late and the runner is safe.  It is now NOT a "double play" as the rule states.  Is the vicinity call now reviewable?  I think according to the rules it would be.  Just my $0.02.

[BigUmpire]

 

• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)

Here is my question:  The rule states that there is no review of a fielder touching second base on a double play.  What happens when an umpire makes the "vicinity" call at second, but the relay to first is late and the runner is safe.  It is now NOT a "double play" as the rule states.  Is the vicinity call now reviewable?  I think according to the rules it would be.  Just my $0.02.

 

And so it begins.

[ricka56]

 

• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)

Here is my question:  The rule states that there is no review of a fielder touching second base on a double play.  What happens when an umpire makes the "vicinity" call at second, but the relay to first is late and the runner is safe.  It is now NOT a "double play" as the rule states.  Is the vicinity call now reviewable?  I think according to the rules it would be.  Just my $0.02.

 

I think that they made this exception to let the umpires keep the discretion that they always had on the neighborhood call. And what review umpire wants to over-turn his collegue's call on that play. I doubt that safe at 1B is going to be a loophole in this exception. Glad to see this exception...but you can already hear the announcers bitching when their team is on the wrong side of the call.

[zm1283]

I don't like at all that the replay official make the final decision on overturning the call and places any runners.  

[ricka56]

I don't like at all that the replay official make the final decision on overturning the call and places any runners.  

...with input from 2 on-field umpires. Replay official making the decision(s) will take the heat off the umpires who (people will presume) have an interest in not having their play overturned. It's got to be the replay official's call, else they are just consultants describing a replay to umpires who can't see it.

 

I also see no mention of new limitations on managers "discussing" plays that are replay review eligible.

[BigUmpire]

I don't like at all that the replay official make the final decision on overturning the call and places any runners.  

Keeps the Rats off the local guys.

[BigUmpire]

If administered properly this SHOULD speed up the game.

[johnnyg08]

Neighborhood play at 2B is non-reviewable

 

http://www.startribune.com/sports/twins/blogs/240603721.html

[johnnyg08]

 

• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)

Here is my question:  The rule states that there is no review of a fielder touching second base on a double play.  What happens when an umpire makes the "vicinity" call at second, but the relay to first is late and the runner is safe.  It is now NOT a "double play" as the rule states.  Is the vicinity call now reviewable?  I think according to the rules it would be.  Just my $0.02.

 

 

No.  That's the point of the provision.

[VAUmp]

 

 

• Force play (except the fielder's touching of second base on a double play)

Here is my question:  The rule states that there is no review of a fielder touching second base on a double play.  What happens when an umpire makes the "vicinity" call at second, but the relay to first is late and the runner is safe.  It is now NOT a "double play" as the rule states.  Is the vicinity call now reviewable?  I think according to the rules it would be.  Just my $0.02.

 

I think that they made this exception to let the umpires keep the discretion that they always had on the neighborhood call. And what review umpire wants to over-turn his collegue's call on that play. I doubt that safe at 1B is going to be a loophole in this exception. Glad to see this exception...but you can already hear the announcers bitching when their team is on the wrong side of the call.

 

 

I agree.  But the way the rule is worded, if it isn't a double play at 2nd, it IS reviewable.  If they were to get the call in NY and it was obvious the SS was off the bag, they would have to call him safe.  

And, you state, "what review umpire wants to over-turn his collegue's call"  I don't think it is a matter of "want" at that point.  It is a matter of making the correct call.  

Again, just my $0.02

[grayhawk]

I bet it was the players who vetoed the neighborhood play.

[ricka56]

I agree.  But the way the rule is worded, if it isn't a double play at 2nd, it IS reviewable.

It's not a rule, its a policy. If they intended to exempt the neighborhood play, it will be exempted.

[mstaylor]

Hey guys, if the play at first is questioned then that is their one. They have to question any part of the play initially, which at that time the play at second isn't reviewable. They can't get a second bite at the apple after the fact.

[johnnyg08]

And, you state, "what review umpire wants to over-turn his collegue's call"  I don't think it is a matter of "want" at that point.  It is a matter of making the correct call.

I agree w/ this.

[mstaylor]

I think the reason for them having to request all parts at the beginning is to not make the neighborhood reviewable after the fact. Plus it keeps them from making desperation reviews, which would seriously slow things down.

[VAUmp]

But the rule states that the neighborhood play is not reviewable on a DOUBLE PLAY.  If you don't get the out at first, it isn't a double play, hence, reviewable.

[mstaylor]

But all parts of the play has to asked before the review and at the beginning that part isn't reviewable, hence no second bite of the apple.

[UMP45]

I think it's all a crock!!

[VAUmp]

But all parts of the play has to asked before the review and at the beginning that part isn't reviewable, hence no second bite of the apple.

Why isn't it reviewable?  If the BR is safe at first, then it isn't a double play.  I'm just saying that because the rule says "DOUBLE PLAY" if the out isn't made at first, that makes the neighborhood play at second fair game.  That's how it is in my simple mind anyway.  

[mstaylor]

I don't know what I am saying is correct but by what they have released it won't be reviewable.

1. They get one review a game unless some portion of what they ask is overturned, then they get another but a max of two.

2. They must ask for all aspects of the play they want reviewed at the beginning. At that point the play at second isn't reviewable

3. My interp of what they wrote is you can't revisit the same play.

4. You only get an additional review, at best, so do they want to waste it on the same play?

[VAUmp]

What happens then on the play when the SS makes the neighborhood play, but then stumbles, or for some reason, just doesn't make the throw?  Maybe he double clutches the ball, or drops it on the transfer?   

[UMP45]

IMHO it will be interpreted as "attempted" double play or "possible" double play.

[Richvee]

IMHO it will be interpreted as "attempted" double play or "possible" double play.

I agree here. It's meant to be "the front end of an attempted double play." Probably should have been worded that way, but I think it's obvious that's what is intended. 

[alan2703]

Tarp play can be reviewed man on second 2 outs rules no catch how do they determine which base to give man on second ,he gets third if he is slow ,home if he is fast. Also ball called foul change to fair how do you determine which base to put the batter let alone if there are runners on base. Balls and strikes as most do not call the high strike I see more of them being called in a tight game by review as they will go with text book strike zone,any thoughts on that . I am not fond of this rule change as I feel it will make the umpires more of a target than they already are. Let the circus begin.