MLB to Expand Instant Replay in 2014 (About Damn Time)

The days are numbered for the arrogant umpires.

MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced today that baseball will greatly expand instant replay starting in the 2014 season. Managers will be allowed to make up to three challenges per game, one for the first six innings and two after the sixth. The best part about it is that the review will not be made by the officiating crew at the stadium but rather by a crew at MLB headquarters in New York City who will render a final decision.

As for what plays will be reviewable, it's a gray area at this point. Atlanta Braves president John Schuerholz, a member of the replay committee, has said that 89% of incorrect calls made in the past will be reviewable but failed to provide a list.

This expanded instant replay still needs to be passed by 75% of the owners during the off season. The MLBPA and the umpires would also need to approve the changes.

Perhaps not the best replay system that can be put in place but it's still a significant upgrade from what they have now (just borderline home runs). While it's unclear what can be challenged, it's going to include numerous things which will make the game fairer and much less controversial.

Again, the system itself is not the best available. College Football appears to use instant replay the best ( and it pains me to admit that) with a replay official able to halt the game for a review at any time need be.

But I do get why baseball went to the challenge system instead. They're afraid that the replay official method will slow the game down too much. The challenge system, in the end, is a compromise.

Over time, I do hope that Baseball will move towards the College Football model regarding instant replay. But for the time being, it's a home run.

NBA Changes for Good and $

Some minor changes are coming to the NBA with some involving adding to instant replay. One of them is now officials can check on all flagrant fouls calls in a game. A bit more was added to checking a defender's position around a basket on a charge or blocking foul but only in the final two minutes and in OT. Also Goaltending calls can be reviewed in the late stages of the game. The other thing that came out was the approval by the league to sell small advertising patches on NBA uniforms. This will be implemented starting in the 2013-14 season and the league is hoping to add $100 million dollars in revenue through this method.

I do applaud the expansion of instant replay in the NBA. I do not watch it as much as I should but I can imagine that this helps the game by eliminating more of the human element. That's a good thing in my book. However, I don't like the advertising patches idea. If you follow this blog you know that I follow soccer or futbol and just love the sport but the one thing that I find regrettable is the fact that the teams can put advertising right smack in the chest area of the uniforms. Heck, it seems even worse in Ligue 1. I'll admit that I have grown accustomed to it but I rather that the four big sports in the US don't start heading down this avenue.

It's one thing for Adidas or Nike to show their logo on the uniforms they make for the league. It's just clutter to add anything else.