Selig Says Replay Will Be Reviewed

NEW YORK -- Bud Selig said he has not changed his opinion on expanding the use of instant replay, but baseball's commissioner left the door open a crack, saying the issue would be addressed in the offseason.

"I think there are other ways we can make corrections," Selig said. "During the offseason we'll review everything."

It could come up at the GM Meetings, Nov. 9-11 in Chicago.

Selig, speaking after he presented Derek Jeter with the Roberto Clemente Award before Game 2 of the World Series on Thursday, has maintained that he did not want to expand the use of replay beyond home-run boundary calls because it would impact the pace of the game. The question has come up again because of a string of mistakes made by umpires this postseason.

"I understand we have had some incidents that were most unfortunate," Selig said. "They were controversial and beyond controversial. There is no sense in hiding that, nor would I."

Although Selig said he hasn't seen enough to convince him to change his opinion, he said he has thought about the subject.

"I take this more seriously than anybody will know," he said, "but there will be a time and place to think about all this."

Selig also responded to criticism that there are too many off days in the playoffs under the current format. Selig said "it's a valid point," but that there is no way to avoid it because you don't know how long the playoff series will go when the schedule is done. He also said that shortening the season is not an option.

"If the clubs want to consider going to 154 games, we can reduce that, but they don't want to do that, unanimously," he said. "Big markets, medium markets, small markets. They just don't want any part of it."

Selig was asked about the Dodgers situation, given the impending divorce of owner Frank McCourt and his wife Jamie, but he said it wasn't appropriate for him to comment.

He also said that he was happy to see Mark McGwire get back into the game as the Cardinals' hitting coach.

"When he comes back you will all have a lot of opportunities to talk to him," Selig said. "The fact that he's coming back gives him an opportunity you wouldn't have had."

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

10-29-2009 @ 10:49PM

tjm442 said...

Bottom of the 7th...game 2

What's with the umpiring? This is now a pattern.

10-30-2009 @ 6:20PM

Dvdfrnzwbr said...

ML Baseball lives in the stone ages. Out comes of games can teter on the call made that the human eye simply cannot see. They wonder why they can't compete with the NFL.

10-29-2009 @ 10:50PM

World Series game 2...bottom of the 7th.

What's with the umpiring? This is now a pattern.

10-29-2009 @ 11:33PM

KingGreat said...

I'm beginning to think the Progressive Boink Dugout guys have Selig pegged dead on, and aren't joking around at all. Joe Buck and Tim McCarver made it a point to mention that the umpires have all officiated at least 1 World Series. That's great. I watched my wife give birth once. I'm now a certified ob/gyn. The umpiring sucks. They get paid to do one thing...when I do my job as half-assed, I get fired. Absolutely ridiculous.

10-30-2009 @ 9:35AM

ed344mu said...

I guess it's about time someone told Selig that we have jet planes and teams can get across the country in hours if they need to. Way too many days off between games!If it's a best of seven allot ten days for completion. I'd say nine but an extra weather day.

10-30-2009 @ 12:53PM

Glen said...

Over the coarse of a long season; you can always claim that the bad calls will even out. But during s short playoff, no way. A blown call can mean a lost game and a very good chance the playoff series. Suspend an ump for an obvious blown call.

10-30-2009 @ 1:06PM

Mike said...

Bad calls have been part of the game since the beginning. GET OVER IT!!!!

10-30-2009 @ 1:37PM

jgc711 said...

that's true...but that was before the age of technology...during those days when there was no replay on tv, the umpires can get away from it...but with the technology we have now, everything looks obvious especially if it's a blown call...what the umpires need to do is to talk about the call and if needed, do a reversal of the call...but they have so much pride that they won't do it...bums!!!

10-30-2009 @ 4:32PM

gorjing said...

This is true but technology has proven that errors can be overturned.

10-30-2009 @ 4:50PM

B I L L said...

Some of these bad calls have been blatant...the play that caused the Yankees a one out, bases loaded situation was a little more hard to call. Granted,video replay makes everyone a genius but many of these calls are just plain bad. And finally,everyone has a right to complain about the umpiring,that too has been going on since the first umpired game, that's what keeps them on their toes. So maybe you should get over yourself and stop lecturing on what YOU think about any given subject.

10-30-2009 @ 2:03PM

paryback said...

they have 6 umpires, if they can't get it right replay everything, or get a whole new set of umpires and get rid of the current 6

10-30-2009 @ 2:05PM

selig is a very bad commisioner, they need to get sombody like kenasaw landis--independent and never owned a team

10-30-2009 @ 3:03PM

larry said...

It's about time that rancid old diaper bag Selig was put in the home sucking his thumb where he belongs............

10-31-2009 @ 12:27PM

propackage said...

keep writing maybe we will get rid of selig after all

10-30-2009 @ 3:53PM

suitman36 said...

its not that difficult to shorten the season. remember the days of double headers? don't see too many of them anymore. couldn't be because they want to be able to charge admission for each game, could it? nah....greed is dead, isn't it?

10-30-2009 @ 4:17PM

rwc4141 said...

You can shorten the season calendar-wise without reducing the number of games. It's called DOUBLEHEADERS. Add 5 or 6 to everyone's schedule. November baseball is ridiculous. Selig should be happy that a Boston-Colorado series didn't occur.

10-30-2009 @ 4:21PM

Julian said...

Here's an idea to ponder Mr. Selig.
You say that using instant replay will prolong the game and you are probably right. But, so what! I hear alot of commentators complaining about the length of the game but I for one and my friends don't think it's a potential problem.
I live in NY and attend many NYY games each year. I pay big $$$$ to go to the stadium. I don't care if it takes 3 hours or 5 hours. It's the same if it was an extra inning game.
Anyway, here's the idea...
1. Put instant replay in all Post season games as well as the All Star game and pre-season games.
2. If a team wants to invoke an instant replay,only the manager can ask for it. They can argue a call with the umpire and call for a re-play if they want.
3. The head umpire along with the ump that made the call are the only ones who will review the play. If the head umpire made that call, he can request one umpire to participate in the ruling.
4. If the play was not reversed the team will lose one out during that inning.
5. Only 2 replays per team will be allowed.
6. Any play can be called by the manager to replay.
7. If a manager calls for 2 replays in a game and both calls were not reversed, the second replay will be penalized with two outs. If there are already 2 outs, then the next inning would automatically start with one out. If the replay is requested in the last inning of a game and it was not reversed and it means that the game is officially over, the next time the 2 teams meet to play, the 1st inning for that team will start with one out. If the 2 teams do not have any games left that year to play together, the one out rule will carry over to the next year when the 2 teams meet for the 1st time.

The key here is the punishment of an out or two if the call is not reversed. That means the manager better be darn sure before he calls for a replay.

10-30-2009 @ 4:43PM

Gregg said...

With the missed calls in the playoffs I think you've got to at least consider it. I mean c'mon, there were some really bad calls made.

10-30-2009 @ 5:38PM

When I was a kid Sunday and Holiday double headers were a given and they didn't play the world series in the dark or in the snow;that was left to the NFL and AFL. The World Series should be over by now.Money? If you add up the saleries and World Series bonuses of the Yankees and the Dodgers in the 1955,56 or 1963 World Seriesthey still would not equal what A-Rod earns! Ah,for the days when you "Looked Smart with Gilette Blue Blades and Mel Allen opened the broadcast with Hi,Everybody,From Ebbet's Field or From Yankee Stadium the 19.. World Series.