Major League Baseball took a key step toward expanding the use of television replays in reviewing calls during games by unanimously approving funding for such a system at club owners' meetings.
"We made a gigantic move," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said.
"I think we're quite far along. The bottom line is we're moving forward on replay.
"Unless there is something I'm missing right now, we're going to have replay in 2014."
A final vote is expected in January at owners meetings in Phoenix, with final approval of the plan also needed from the players' union and the global umpires union.
"We've had positive discussions with both the (unions) about the expansion of replay and I'm confident we're going to be able to make an agreement with both unions in time for next season," said Rob Manfred, MLB's chief operating officer.
The system would likely feature a manager having one or two challenges per game with a unified system from a central office monitoring television feeds of all games and able to communicate with umpires on the field via a headphone hookup.
A manager would retain the right to more challenges if proven correct but lose it if deemed wrong. Talks continue about whether or not umpires could invoke TV replays on their own even if a manager's challenges are exhausted.
A way of preventing managers from stalling to allow consultation of replays before deciding whether or not to challenge is only being considered, especially with pace of play in games already an issue for the sport.
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