5 Early Signs MLB's New Instant Replay System Will Work

Technology is the wave of the future, and baseball finally seems to be getting out of the shallow end when it comes to using it.

Although technology continues to improve with each passing day, MLB has been hesitant at using that technology when it comes to disputed calls other than as it relates to a home run.

But that won't happen any longer. 

The MLB is currently testing an expanded instant-replay system in the Arizona Fall League. The system allows for one manager's challenge in the first through sixth innings, with an additional two from the seventh inning until the completion of the game, according to ESPN:

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Calls that are challenged will be reviewed by a crew in MLB headquarters in New York City, which will make a final ruling.

A manager who sees a call he feels is incorrect can file a challenge with the crew chief or home plate umpire. Only reviewable plays can be challenged. Non-reviewable plays can still be argued by managers, who can request that the umpires discuss it to see if another member of the crew saw the play differently. Reviewable plays cannot be argued by the manager.

Challenges not used in the first six innings will not carry over, and a manager who wins a challenge will retain it.

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For baseball, this is a huge step, and it joins the sport with the NFL and college football in giving teams the ability to challenge what they believe to be incorrect calls.

Although it's still in the early stages of use, here are five signs that the new replay system will work.

The Right Call Is Being Made

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The most important thing for any fan is that the right call is being made. Regardless of what team you're rooting for, you want to see the right call made.

So far, things are looking good in the Arizona Fall League as calls are getting reversed when found to be wrong.

MLB.com's Tom Singer was at the first game in which this system was used. The game matched the Salt River Rafters and Mesa Solar Socks, and it had great results:

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After Salt River Rafters second baseman Jacob Wilson backhanded C.J. Cron's leadoff grounder in the top of the second and threw him out, (Solar Sox manager Bill) Richardson challenged first-base umpire Barber's call.

Home-plate ump Trip Gibson turned toward the press box, made a box motion with his hands to indicate a TV, the replay official in an onsite trailer reviewed the play from angles provided by MLB Network cameras, relayed his decision into the headset handed by an on-field emissary to Gibson that the play stood.

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Singer tweeted out a call that was overturned: "Another reversed call, and still in top of 1st: Safe call at 1st after 3B Kubitza bobbles grounder is overturned—saving Kubitza from E."

The right call was made in both instances and confirmed by replay.

The same can't be said for this call on July 26, 2011, in which Atlanta Braves' shortstop Julio Lugo scored the game-winning run in the 19th inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Had Clint Hurdle been able to challenge the call, instant replay would have shown Lugo was tagged out before he touched home plate.

Getting the call right is the most important thing, and the new replay system is giving managers a chance to ensure that happens.

Replay Decisions Aren't Taking as Long as Normal Discussions Would

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Some people had concerns over the replay system slowing down the game, including commissioner Bud Selig, according to the ESPN article:

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One of Selig's major concerns was the possible slowing of games. (Braves' president John) Schuerholz said with a direct line of communication between the central office and the ballparks the expectation is that replays under the new system will take 1 minute, 15 seconds. Current replays average just over 3 minutes.

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And just think to how long it takes when a manager comes out to argue a call.

Through the first few games of the new system being used, it's seeming to go faster than when umpires normally meet to discuss calls. As Singer tweeted, it's going faster than the NFL's review process as well.

When asked by a fan via Twitter if the replay process was faster or NFL-like, Singer tweeted, "MUCH faster than NFL under-the-hood clown show."

There will obviously be times in which a decision may take a little bit longer, but if the AFL games are any indication, it's going to go much faster.

All managers have to do is indicate they want to use one of their challenges and it goes to a review (as long as it's a reviewable play). The time spent by managers arguing with umpires will be less and that will help speed up the game.

MLB Limiting the Number of Challenges

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During testing this week, AFL managers have been encouraged to challenge as many plays as possible to help iron out some of the details, according to Yahoo! Sports' Mark Townsend:

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AFL managers have been given unlimited challenges to use this week and are encouraged to challenge as frequently as possible to iron these issues out. If the proposed system is implemented in MLB, managers would only get a single challenge for the first six innings and two for the final three innings[.]

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However, Townsend points out that things could get a little scary if MLB decided to go with more than three challenges:

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Still, it's a little scary to think two calls needed to be reversed in that short a time frame. At that rate, critical portions of regular season games could turn into replay fests pretty quickly if MLB ever went beyond the three challenge limit.

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For now, the system works because it's limited to three challenges. The same can be said for why the NFL's challenge system continues to work.

Managers won't be able to abuse the use of challenges and will have to think hard about when and if to use it. Will they use that one challenge allowed in the first through sixth innings on a close play at first base with two outs and nobody else on in the first inning? Or will they save it for later innings when a run could hang in the balance?

They will get the opportunity to strategize, just like NFL coaches, on when is best to use their challenges.

MLB Is Testing Early and Often

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Before any company rolls out something new, it tests it. If it doesn't work, they go back and rework it to ensure its success.

That's the same thing MLB is doing in testing this new system. After testing for five days in the AFL, they'll test it again in spring training, according to an ESPN article. "We know we have to prepare people for this," Schuerholz said. "Everyone is embracing it. We believe managers will in time."

With MLB allowing the AFL managers to challenge as much as they wanted to, it's showing they're not afraid to run as many tests on it as possible.

The fact that MLB will continue to train on this is a good sign. They're not approaching it as something where they have all the answers. They're approaching it as something they feel can improve the game and are working diligently at putting the best system in place.

MLB Is Open to Change

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Even after testing is completed and MLB has implemented the new policy, they're open to change, according to an ESPN article mentioned in previous slides:

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Schuerholz said after the first year MLB will look at what worked and what didn't and make adjustments for 2015.

It's going to take some time, he said.

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It's not going to be a perfect system in 2014, but MLB is willing to tweak it to make it right. For an organization that has fought against this system for so long, it's a step in the right direction.

MLB is about giving the fans the best product they can. And with today's technology, there's no reason why this replay system shouldn't be in place.

Umpires are human and they make mistakes just like the rest of us. Challenging them isn't a knock on their ability to do their job, it's using the tools available to ensure the right call is made.

Everyone makes mistakes in their jobs. The only difference is, officials (in every sport) have their mistakes scrutinized by millions of people. 

It may be awkward at first in welcoming this new system, but for umpires, their main goal is to get the call right. If you don't believe me, just ask Jim Joyce after blowing a call that took away a perfect game from Armando Galarraga. Joyce admitted he missed the call after watching a replay after the game.

Had a manager's challenge been available, there would be 24 perfect games in baseball history, as opposed to 23.

MLB is open to change as it wants to ensure something like this never happens again.