Baseball to formulate instant replay proposal

NEW YORK — A top baseball official will formulate a proposal for instant replay, and the technology could be tested in the Arizona Fall League this year.

Jimmie Lee Solomon, the sport’s executive vice president for baseball operations, wouldn’t put a timetable on a replay plan, which was recommended by general managers in November. The idea drew renewed attention following several blown home run calls by umpires in recent days.

“The times are such that our fans are used to seeing all the high technology and they’re used to seeing the other sports that use these systems to make determinations, and the fans are clamoring for all the sports to look at that,” Solomon said Thursday.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Baseball is developing tentative plans to experiment with replay during the Fall League and likely would continue testing, if it’s successful, during the 2009 World Baseball Classic, ESPN.com reported Thursday.

Solomon wouldn’t go that far.

“We’re looking at various places to start looking at instant replay,” he said. “We’ve made no final decision as to where exactly we’re going to try it out, do any test runs or anything yet.”

GMs voted 25-5 last November to use replays on boundary calls, such as whether possible homers are fair or foul, whether balls clear fences, and whether there’s fan interference.

On Sunday night, umpires at Yankee Stadium reversed a correct call and concluded an apparent home run by the Mets’ Carlos Delgado was foul. On Monday night, umps in Houston mistakenly ruled a ball off a center-field wall was in play. And on Wednesday night, the Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez lost a home run when umpires decided the ball hit the fence — replays showed it glanced off a yellow staircase behind the fence.

Baseball commissioner Bud Selig repeatedly has said he’s against replay but also said he is willing to consider it.

“I’ve had conversations with the commissioner about it and I know he’s giving it a lot of thought and consideration and doing a lot of work on it. Commissioner Selig is getting a lot more information and will know the pros and cons,” Seattle Mariners president Chuck Armstrong said.

“I think it’s certainly something that bares exploring and I look forward to hearing the results,” he added. “You have those things that happened this week in Houston or Yankee Stadium and those things just should not happen.”

Solomon noted Selig’s habit of being deliberate in his decision-making.

“I think that he’s going to be very cautious as we move forward,” Solomon said. “I’m hoping to have something to the commissioner as soon as I possibly can, and once I do that it will be on him to decide how fast he wants us to try to be looking at rolling something out, and then after that how soon we’ll look to be implementing something. So all of these things right now are very, very, very preliminary.”

The use of replay in major league games likely would need the approval of the Major League Baseball Players Association and the World Umpires Association.

“You’re going to have to talk to all the parties that are involved because everybody will be needed to make the system a success,” Solomon said.

The NFL, NBA, NHL, some NCAA sports and major tennis tournaments use replay in some form. International soccer has resisted, although some leagues use it after matches to sort out suspensions for red and yellow cards.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Milkar Perez of the Everett AquaSox prepare to catch a ball at Funko Field on May 26, 2025 (Photo courtesy of Evan Morud / Everett AquaSox)
AquaSox comeback bid falls short

Everett hits two solo homers in the ninth but loses 4-3 to Spokane.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for May 18-24

The Athlete of the Week nominees for May 18-24. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) reacts after scoring in the fourth quarter. (Carlos Gonzalez / The Minnesota Star Tribune / Tribune News Services)
Jerry Brewer: Foul artists have ruled the NBA playoffs

John Wall had a theory about foul-baiting NBA stars. The former Washington… Continue reading

Shorewood's Meiron Bereket dribbles past Bellevue's Masora Takashima during a 3A State boys soccer quarterfinal game on May 24, 2025 at Shoreline Stadium. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Shorewood boys soccer clinches first state semifinal in 11 years

The No. 1 Stormrays prevailed 7-6 in penalties over No. 8 Bellevue after a scoreless match.

Prep state tournament results and schedule

Here’s a look at what’s happening this postseason.

Jackson players celebrate teammate MJ Holcomb scoring during the game against Edmonds-Woodway on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State prep baseball roundup for Saturday

Timberwolves win two, bound for state semis.

(From left to right) Erica Wheeler, Gabby Williams and Zia Cooke approach the bench during a 102-82 win over the Las Vegas Aces on May 25, 2025 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (Photo courtesy of Seattle Storm)
Storm wins three straight, Loyd returns to Seattle

The Storm beat Las Vegas 102-82 on Sunday by dishing out a season-high 32 assists.

Snohomish junior Abby Edwards delivers a pitch during the Panthers' 3-2 loss to Liberty in the 3A State Softball semifinals in Lacey, Washington on May 24, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Snohomish softball falls in the 3A state semifinal

The Panthers miss out on third straight championship appearance with 3-2 loss to Liberty.

Edmonds-Woodway's Alex Plumis wards off Monroe's Cody Duncan during a 3A State second-round game on May 23, 2025 at Mercer Island High School. (Qasim Ali / The Herald)
Edmonds-Woodway boys soccer stuns Monroe with shootout win at State

The No. 11 Warriors won penalties 4-3 after a thrilling 2-2 game.

Snohomish boys and girls win 3A district track titles

Kamiak boys second, Lake Stevens girls third at 4A bi-district meet.

The Jackson High School softball team celebrates after defeating Skyline in the first round of the Class 4A state tournament at Columbia Playfields in Richland, Wash. on Friday, May 23, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Peacocke / Jackson H.S. Athletics)
State prep softball roundup for May 23-24

Jackson softball reaches state semis for sixth straight year

Stanwood sophomore Olivia Dahl strikes out to end the game, a 5-4 loss to Garfield in the 3A State Softball quarterfinals in Lacey, Washington on May 23, 2025. (Joe Pohoryles / The Herald)
Stanwood softball shocked in 3A state quarterfinal

The top-seed Spartans fall 5-4 to No. 8 Garfield after allowing three runs in the sixth.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.