Gibbons: Expanded replay should be 'good'

TORONTO -- On Thursday, Major League Baseball announced plans that would completely overhaul instant replay in baseball.

In a groundbreaking news conference, Commissioner Bud Selig said Major League owners were briefed on a proposal that would see a dramatic increase on the plays that can be reviewed.

As part of the plan, the manager will have three challenges a game, one in the first six innings, and two from the seventh onward, with the manager retaining his challenge if he wins his appeal.

With just home run calls presently being reviewable, it's a giant step toward making sure a game isn't affected by a missed call.

"I think it'll be good," Toronto skipper John Gibbons said. "I'm sure they'll put a limit on what you can actually question, [but] at least [you'll] get it right. The game is long now anyways, what's an extra 20 minutes?"

What makes the new precedent different is that the control of the challenges is directly in the hands of the manager, and the reviews will be facilitated by Major League Baseball Advanced Media, who will have a direct secure line with the umpire to cue up replays.

Braves president John Schuerholz said that the proposal, if accepted, would cover 89 percent of the calls that are missed currently.

"I think you look at some bang-bang plays at the bases in a crucial part of the game," Gibbons said when asked what would be the most challenged play. "It's hard to say, it really is. I think the magnitude of the game, the situation, will dictate when you argue."

Although the new replay system won't start until the 2014 season, at the earliest -- the owners will formally vote on the issue at the next meeting in November -- Gibbons imagines he'll be relying partially on his players' reaction to the play.

"It's tough to see at some angles," Gibbons said. "You can see up the line, first-base line, you think you have an idea on bang-bang plays, but everybody's eyes go. It's a pretty good distance."