For those who missed it, the umpires and the league have reached an agreement that will allow the use of instant replay, but solely for determining boundary calls. For those wondering what that means: homerun or not homerun. Umpires will decide when instant replay is used. 

I’m not one of those super traditionalists that thinks any change is bad, whether it be instant replay or Yankee pitchers running bases in an interleague game, there is some merit in the argument that instant replay has the potential for slowing the game down. Much as I enjoy those west coast games that run till 1 or 2 am NY time, the thought of extra time added on to them makes me cringe. And not the good type of cringe. That being said, with use limited to boundary calls, how much an affect will really take place? Odds are, at best there will be one use max of instant replay per game.  Its not everyday someone hits a questionable homer, steroid homers aside. There’s no need to worry realistically till they start broadening the replays use, as football has. If we can start using replay for close plays and questionable catches, an unlimited use would potentially result in 6 hour marathons. Imagine how painful that would be for those late summer Baltimore/Toronto fight for last matchups.

For now, limited replay seems like a good idea. At the very least, its worth a try, at least until 2015 when the robot umpires take over. They’ll be 100% accurate, and powered by the medicine of the elderly.