12/21/24
January 17, 2014
MLB approves expanded instant replay. : Beginning this season, each manager will start a game with one challenge. If it is upheld, he retains his challenge but can never have more than two in a game. If the manager exhausts his challenges before the start of the seventh inning, he is out of luck, adding a new element of strategy to the game. Beginning in the top of the seventh, the crew chief is empowered to institute a review.
The plus side to using challenge flags, if the NFL is any indication, is it gives more insight into which managers are morons. It's easy enough to look competent by just standing on the sidelines as your team loses every week by 3-7 points, but once part of your job includes public decisions about how to manage limited resources and weigh risks, it's a bit tougher to hide.
God I wish Bobby Valentine were managing in the MLB next year.
posted by yerfatma at 11:44 AM on January 18, 2014
Step 4: The manager will walk back to the dugout after being ordered by the umpires.
From my understanding of the new rules, if the manager wishes to challenge he must do so before returning to the dugout.
posted by DudeDykstra at 11:28 PM on January 19, 2014
From my understanding of the new rules, if the manager wishes to challenge he must do so before returning to the dugout.
I fully expect managers to shuffle to the dugout like Tim Conway, to give their video guys more time.
posted by grum@work at 10:35 AM on January 20, 2014
Ugh.
Of the methods of implementing replay, they decide to go with the dumbest/slowest version available (NFL vs NHL).
It's especially stupid to have a different set of rules for the last three innings. Why is that? A run in the 8th inning is equal to a run in the 3rd inning? Why wouldn't you have the same set of rules for the entire game?
It would be like the NHL deciding that automatic goal reviews won't be done on any goals scored in the first two periods, but will happen in the third period.
You want to know what is going to happen? I'll tell you:
Step 1: Close play at the plate. Runner called out.
Step 2: Manager for the runner will signal to his bench coach to contact their team's "video guy" to look at the replay.
Step 3: Manager will run out to the umpire and complain about the call, and ask the umps to confer. This will provide a time-waster for the team's "video guy" to confirm if the call was right/wrong.
Step 4: The manager will walk back to the dugout after being ordered by the umpires.
Step 5: The bench coach will signal to the manager that they should ask for the review.
Step 6: NOW the manager will throw down the flag to signal a review.
Step 7: The review will chew up even more non-action time in the game.