Early review shows baseball replay is safe

Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says the sport’s new replay system is working well, despite a few problems during its first two weeks.

While baseball began video review late in the 2008 season, it was limited to potential home runs and fair-foul calls. The system that began March 30 vastly expands the types of plays that managers and umpires can ask to be reviewed at a replay center in New York.

Calls by umpires on the field have been confirmed in 33 of 89 challenges through Monday and overturned in 30. For 25 others, calls stood because of a lack of “clear and convincing’’ evidence. In one instance, umpires asked for a video review to check the ball-strike count.

“We’ve had really very little controversy overall,’’ Selig said Tuesday at the MLB Diversity Business Summit. “Everything in life will have a little glitch here and there when you do something new. And are our guys on top of it? You bet. But I’m saying to you again, you’ll hear about the one or two controversies, but look at all the calls that have been overturned.’’

Umpires review challenged calls in a room filled with computers, screens and technicians at the offices of Major League Baseball Advanced Media.

Boston manager John Farrell was ejected after a call was overturned during Sunday’s game against the Yankees, which gave New York an additional run in a game it went on to win 3-2. Francisco Cervelli originally was called out at first for an inning-ending double play, but he was ruled safe on the review - allowing Brian McCann to score from first.

Said Chicago Cubs owner Tom Ricketts: ‘’We’re two and two in challenges, so it’s clear to us the replay system only works about half the time.’’

AP