http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/8852971/future-expanded-replay-major-league-baseball

I really didn't see anything in that article to indicate that anything has sufficiently changed in MLB's approach to this issue to make implementation of expanded replay in 2014 any more likely than it was when people were claiming last fall that they'd have something in place for this season.

They haven't even decided on what method of replay they want to implement or what plays they want to add to be reviewed. So far it's been nothing but a bit of talk. I won't even label it as a bunch of talk because quite frankly I can't see how they could not have any of that decided if they'd spent any significant amount of time discussing the issue.

Although I do have one suggestion on how to get things moving. Maybe if FOX and ESPN got together and told MLB that they weren't going to pay MLB their annual media contracts starting in 2014 unless they implement expanded replay I bet all of a sudden it would be a much bigger priority for Mr. Selig to get it worked out than it has been to date.

They should at least improve it in Yankee stadium. It's tough to tell whether a routine fly ball is a homer or a foul ball there even with the replay.

What's so incredibly ignorant, is that the networks, who televise all kinds of sporting events, will show replays to their viewing audiance, of all most all questionable plays or calls .

Some, even have access to the event's jumbotron, and will show the fans, in attendance, the plays ! LOL Which, really doesn't go over too well, when the officials have screwed the pooch !

So, what is required .......... is "already" in place !

Yes, their foul poles are so much different than anybody else's.

Unfortunately it's not in place in every ballpark for every game. But if they at least made some decisions on the matter they could take steps to move forward with it so things would be in place.

The first step is to decide on the method for how to use it. I think of the ones mentioned in the article having a 5th umpire in every crew as the replay ump would be the best approach. That eliminates the time wasted for the managers to challenge a ruling, and the time wasted for the umps to huddle and decide to go somewhere to look at the replay.

Second, after deciding on that method pick 3 or 4 ballparks from large market teams where they have their own regional networks broadcasting the games and provide the test replay ump with all the feeds. They then mark down any play they would have reviewed and potentially reversed. By doing that and by reviewing the camera angles that each team provides the league could get a good sense of where it would want to place their official replay cameras in all ballparks.

Once the above is done it's simply a matter of equipping each ballpark with the proper cameras and designating an official replay booth in each park. Steps one and two can be done this year. Step 3 next winter. This isn't anywhere near as complicated as MLB has made it so far.

Actually Ken, I was referring to the network feeds, which, I'm sure, would not be a problem to access .

I just felt that if they worked with the networks, which would, probably, affect the money part of the deal, would "still" be cheaper than buying the equipment and poeple to man it .

I would bet that there aren't too many ball parks, no matter how small or low budget, who don't have, at least, "local" telecasts .

I can watch "minor league" games here, if I want too !

Actually if you read the article linked in the first post the author writes about the limited camera angles for a day game in Oakland from last year. Limited camera angles and poor feed quality don't really help with replay all that much. That's why to do it right they'd need to evaluate some parks that have good, HD cameras in place at multiple angles, and then compare the views from each one to see where they would want to put official cameras in each ballpark. It's not like MLB as a whole is hurting for money. They can easily take some of the league wide revenue and equip each ballpark with new cameras in the specific places they want them so they have consistent looks in each one for the official replays. If they're going to do this I agree with the contention in the article that they should do it right from the beginning. But talking about it endlessly isn't really accomplishing much. If they followed the outline for an approach from my last post things would at least start moving forward, and be on track for implementation at the start of 2014.

Well, we both agree, it can be done, but they're dragging their feet .

Gee, what a surprise, the dinosaurs who run MLB are dragging their feet ;-)