FAQ about new rules in 2014
— -- A Major League Baseball official refers to the game's massive changes in 2014 as "a celebration." And, to some degree, it is.
To reach this point on instant replay and home-plate collisions, as well as making at least some progress on headgear protection for pitchers, took an enormous amount of time, work and energy. But more than a celebration, the season should be viewed as historic. And most people in baseball agree that eventually the changes will make the game better.
"Two or three years from now," said Orioles manager Buck Showalter said, "we'll all be saying, 'What took us so long?'"
It might take two or three years to refine, if not perfect, the processes, which can be ambiguous and complicated. This first season of expanded replay and protection of the catcher is a work in progress, a learning experience, with almost as many questions as answers.
So here are some questions that fans, managers and players will be asking in 2014.
