Major League Baseball managers may feel like NFL coaches in 2014 in terms of being able to challenge calls by officials - or umpires. No word as to whether the managers will get those neat red flags that the NFL coaches keep in their pants pockets.
FoxSports.com is reporting that baseball owners are considering a rules proposal under which managers could ask for a video review to overturn a call.
According to the report, MLB vice president Joe Torre gave a presentation to representatives from all 30 teams on Wednesday, and further discussion took place on Thursday.
The new replay rules would allow managers one request for a replay, or a challenge, over the first six innings of the game. They would get two more from the seventh inning on - until the conclusion of the game, regardless of extra innings.
Any call that is challenged will be subject to review by an umpiring crew stationed in MLB's New York City headquarters. That crew will make the final determination whether to overturn the original call.
FoxSports.com adds that a manager who sees a call he feels is wrong must file a challenge with the crew chief or home plate umpire. Only reviewable plays can be challenged.
As for non-reviewable plays, FoxSports.com reports, managers still can request that the umpire who made the original call to discuss his ruling with the rest of the umpiring crew to determine whether another umpire would've made a different ruling.
A manager cannot argue a reviewable play. The FoxSports.com report did not determine what was considered a reviewable play.
Challenges not used in the first six innings will not carry over, and a manager who wins a challenge gets to keep that challenge.
Baseball has had replay for boundary home-run calls since 2008. The most recent labor agreement sought to expand replay to decisions on foul lines and traps, subject to an agreement with the umpires. Those changes have not yet been implemented.
The league hopes to have the new rules implemented by the 2014 season, if the legislation, which would require 75 percent of the owners' approval, passes.
"I'm proud of them," Commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday of the replay committee. "It's worked out remarkably well. It's historic. There's no question about it."
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