WASHINGTON — Major league ballparks are being wired for instant replay, and commissioner Bud Selig said Thursday his “confidence is growing” that the technology to assist umpires will be ready soon.
“I want to make sure that if and when we do it, it’s really good, it’s perfect,” Selig said at the conclusion of a two-day owners’ meeting. “It’ll be very limited. I want to make sure, and I’m not quite certain yet. But we should have answers very shortly.”
Selig said he has visited the so-called “war room” in New York where officials would review video feeds of disputed home runs. The NHL has a similar setup in Toronto.
“We’ve spent a lot of time doing a lot of wiring of ballparks, doing a lot of checking,” Selig said. “Let’s just say my confidence is growing.”
Owners were told that an agreement with the umpires’ union basically is in place.
The “war room” will be at the offices of Major League Baseball Advanced Media. Phones and monitors for replay will be installed near the field at every ballpark, and decisions will be made by crew chiefs after consulting the New York office.
Selig was once a staunch opponent of replay, but a spate of missed home run calls this season has changed his stance.
Replays would be used to determine whether a ball leaving the field is fair or foul, or whether it actually went over the fence. It would not be used on close plays on the bases or balls and strikes.
BRAVES: Francisley Bueno was suspended one day after he made his big league debut. Atlanta optioned the rookie to Triple-A Richmond on Thursday before learning the left-hander had been suspended. Bob Watson, baseball’s vice president for discipline, announced the ban and a fine for intentionally throwing a pitch “in the head area” of Alfonso Soriano in Wednesday’s 10-2 loss to the Chicago Cubs. Bueno was ejected by plate umpire Ed Rapuano immediately after the pitch.
PIRATES: Adam and Andy LaRoche finally played their first game together with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, two weeks after the brothers became teammates. The Pirates acquired Andy LaRoche, a 24-year-old third baseman, from Los Angeles on July 31 as part of the trade that sent Jason Bay to the Boston Red Sox and Manny Ramirez to the Dodgers. But at the time of the deal, first baseman Adam LaRoche had just been placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained rib cage.
REDS: Cincinnati got minor league catcher Wilkin Castillo from Arizona as part of the trade for outfielder Adam Dunn. Castillo played in 104 games at Triple-A Tucson this season, batting .254 with six homers and 47 RBI. He was assigned to the Reds’ Triple-A team in Louisville.
DRAFT: Ten of baseball’s 30 first-round draft picks were unsigned heading into today’s midnight EDT signing deadline, including picks two through five. Among the unsigned first-rounders were five players represented by agent Scott Boras: No. 2 selection Pedro Alvarez (Pittsburgh), No. 3 Eric Hosmer (Kansas City), No. 20 Joshua Fields (Seattle), No. 23 Allan Dysktra (San Diego) and No. 28 Gerrit Cole (New York Yankees). Other high picks without deals included No. 4 Brian Matusz (Baltimore), No. 5 Buster Posey (San Francisco), No. 7 Yonder Alonso (Cincinnati) and No. 9 Alan Crow (Washington).
WHITE SOX: The Chicago White Sox tied a major league record by hitting four consecutive homers against the Royals in the sixth inning Thursday. Jim Thome hit a two-out, three-run homer and Paul Konerko and Alexei Ramirez followed with shots off reliever Joel Peralta. Robinson Tejeda relieved and Juan Uribe greeted him with another drive to give the White Sox a 9-2 lead. The four straight were a White Sox club record and marked the sixth time in major league history it has been accomplished.
Meanwhile, Chicago’s Carlos Quentin was hit by a pitch for the sixth straight game. Quentin is the only player since 1920 to be hit by a pitch in six straight games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
ROYALS: Miguel Olivo’s suspension was reduced from five games to four, and the Kansas City catcher began serving the penalty Thursday in a series finale against the White Sox. Olivo was fined and suspended after charging the mound during the Royals’ 14-3 win over the White Sox on Aug. 3.
RAYS: Tampa Bay closer Troy Percival left Thursday’s game against Oakland in the ninth inning after spraining his right knee while trying to field a sacrifice bunt.
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