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Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay
11/11/2009 12:33 AM
By Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY
Baseball GMs pass on expanding instant replay

Major League Baseball general managers never addressed, let alone proposed the possibility of expanding the instant-replay system Tuesday at their annual meeting.

Instant replay will remain limited in 2010 to determining only whether potential home runs are fair or foul or cleared fences.

"There are those who clamor for more and more instant replay," said Jimmie Lee Solomon, MLB executive vice president of baseball operations, "I think we need to digest what we've got. I know some (general managers) have talked off-line about the expansion of instant replay, but the commissioner (Bud Selig) doesn't see any reason to consider it."

REPLAY: Umps were under scrutiny during postseason

Several GMs said instant replay was never open to discussion, but even if it was open to a debate, it is too soon to modify the system after being just implemented in August 2008, even in the wake of a postseason filled with blown calls by umpires.

"It's a slippery slope," Oakland A's general manager Billy Beane said. "You've got to be careful. If you make changes, where does it stop? We're dealing with playoffs that had high-profile games. That caused a lot of debate. You've got to be careful before you just leap in with both feet."

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.

Contributing: Wire reports

(Image: By Jacob de Golish, Getty Images)

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