Team owners approve expanded video review system

Major League Baseball club owners have approved an expanded video replay review program of umpire calls for the upcoming North American regular season and playoffs, officials announced Thursday. The measure, adopted with unanimous approval of 30 club owners, has also been approved by the World Umpires Association and the Major League Baseball Players Association. Managers will have at least one challenge to use in every game and, if they are successful in overturning a call on replay review, they would be able to challenge again. No manager will be allowed to challenge more than two plays in any game and umpire crew chiefs can call for a review on their own after the sixth inning in games. "I am very pleased that instant replay will expand to include additional impactful plays," Commissioner Bud Selig said. "The new system will give managers valuable recourse in potentially game-changing situations." Teams also will now be allowed to show all replays on ballpark big screens regardless of whether the play was reviewed, in a change from past policy that angered many fans denied a second chance to see controversial plays. Home run and other boundary calls will remain reviewable under procedures put in place last year, meaning reviews will be at the crew chief's discretion. A replay official on the sidelines will decide whether or not to overturn a call based on clear evidence from a central video command center, and the system will be tested in pre-season games. Among plays subject to review now are ground-rule doubles, fan interference calls, fielders or balls going into the seating areas, fair-foul and trapping calls on outfield plays, a batter being hit by a pitch and tag plays, including steals and pickoff attempts. Challenges must be made in a timely manner, with guidelines yet to be established on exactly what falls within that range. Managers can request a review of multiple portions of a play but must specify what areas they are challenging. Source: AFP