If Major League Baseball does goes to expanded replay in 2013, last night's long delay to judge the authenticity of Jarrod Saltalamacchia's dramatic home run wouldn't happen. Reports abound that MLB will expand the scope of instant replay (adding fair/foul and trap/catch calls and more) next year. But in a system similar to the one used by the NHL, permanent replay officials will make the call, rather than the little coven of on-field umpires huddling in the bowels of a stadium around a 13" SONY.
This is probably a good thing—although one can foresee a boatload of problems—like slowing down the game even more and re-positioning runners. Although, in the 2004 post-season, umpires did rightly re-position Derek Jeter after A-Fraud slapped at Bronson Arroyo. Getting the calls right should be the supreme directive. It looks like this new policy will eventually get to that goal.