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Baseball GMs Pass on Expanding Instant Replay

Baseball general managers fail to make recommendation on expanding instant replay

Upon further review ... baseball general managers like instant replay the way it is.

New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, center, stands for the national anthem during a ceremony at City Hall celebrating the Yankees 27th World Series championship on Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Michael Appleton, Pool)
(AP)

GMs failed to take a vote Tuesday on expanding instant replay following a postseason filled with blown calls by umpires.

"I know there are some who have talked off line about the expansion of instant replay," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, executive vice president of baseball operations in the commissioner's office. "Right now, the commissioner doesn't see any reason to consider it."

Baseball began video review in August 2008 but only to determine whether potential home runs were fair or foul or cleared fences.

Any change for 2010 likely would be likely have to be instigated by commissioner Bud Selig, who repeatedly has said he's against widening the use of video review. While there was discussion, Solomon said "it was all confined to the current instant replay system that we have."

"I think it's working great, and for the most part the umpires are getting the calls right when replay is used," Los Angeles Angels GM Tony Reagins said. "Can we always tweak and get better? Absolutely. But I think were headed in the right direction. For the most part they're getting calls right and not afraid to use instant replay. As long as things are moving in the right direction, I don't see a need to change."

The GMs also heard a report from umpiring vice president Mike Port on training, evaluation and structure.

"I think commissioner Selig is going to look at the entire umpiring structure and he's going to seek ways to enhance the entire structure," Solomon said.

Other topics touched on during the GMs' initial 4 1/2-hour meeting were restructuring the Arizona Fall League to include younger players and modifying the amateur draft to reflect the previous year's postseason performance.

Solomon said there was no discussion on pace of the game, a topic that came to the forefront during the World Series after numerous visits to the mound by Yankees catcher Jorge Posada.

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