MLB’s announcement to extend instant replay in 2014 means the days of managers kicking dirt at umpires may be over.
“It will be strange,” Sveum said on instant replay’s effect on the culture of managers challenging umpires directly. “I guess the only time you’ll argue is if you’ve already wasted one [challenge] and you’ve got none left. It’ll be a different way of the whole umpire process.”
Sveum said he doesn’t see any negative aspects to MLB’s replay plan, which is set for a vote by owners in November. Under the proposed system, managers will be allowed one challenge over the first six innings of a game and two from the seventh inning until the end of the game.
“There can’t be any negatives to making sure two or three plays each night are got right,” Sveum said.
Sveum said the limited number of challenges allowed means he will have to rely more on his players.
“They can get caught up in the moment,” he said. “So when they’re really sure that they missed a call, you’re going to have to rely on them.”
