THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014 PAGE 11 + QUOTE OF THE DAY "You know what? They got the play right. That's the bottom line." - Atlanta Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez, after the first use of expanded replay this season. ESPN.com FACT OF THE DAY During a test run for expanded replay in the 2013 Arizona Fall League, there were 15 challenges with only a 20 percent overturn - Close Call Sports Q. What year did the NFL begin allowing coaches to challenge calls? TRIVIA OF THE DAY A:1999 THE MORNING BREW Unfavorable replay rule changes baseball USA Today Is it too early to call Major League Baseball's recently expanded replay system a total failure? No? All right. Major League Baseball's recently expanded replay system is a total failure. The amendment, unanimously approved by league owners during this past offseason's winter meetings, allows for managers to "challenge" up to two calls per game — one if they get the first challenge wrong, two if they get it right. Sure, not everything is reviewable - balls and strikes, check swings and interference calls are still a no-go - but MLB executive Tony La Russa estimates that close to 90 percent of potential calls will now be challengeable. The idea may seem fine on paper, but actually carrying it out has been a different story. With the game already facing criticism for its increasingly slow pace, a primary concern for league officials is ensuring that disputes are handled quickly — 60 to 90 seconds is their targeted time for all replays. Not only have the actual replays taken longer than this, but managers have predictably found a way to elongate the process even further. Following a questionable call, managers slowly mosey onto the field to have a "chat" with the umpire responsible for said call. The chat — which likely includes topics such as dinner reservations, offseason vacationing plans and the latest developments on "House of Cards" — is used to stall while a bench coach calls upstairs to see whether a replay is warranted. After a minute or so, he flashes either a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" for the manager to challenge the play or simply walk back to the dugout. As long he doesn't actually use a challenge, a manager is free to pull this shenanigan as many times as he pleases throughout the course of a game. If this sounds a tad ridiculous, that's because it is. But time issues aren't the only drawback of the new system. The change eliminates one of baseball's most fabled phenomenons: the managerial meltdown. The sight of a skipper sprinting out of the dugout, placing his face within inches of an ump's face while unintentionally spewing saliva into his face to argue a ruling is nearly as old as the game itself. Properly executed, it can re-energize an entire team and stadium, completely shifting the game's momentum. It can be one of the most entertaining events in baseball for purists and lukewarm fans alike. But with the newly revised replay system, the meltdown will become obsolete. No more Earl Weaver shouting absurd obscenities at any umpire within a mile radius. No more red-faced Lou Piniella angrily kicking dirt on a hapless third-base ump's shoes. No more Bobby Cox getting tossed from Game 6 of the World Series. No, all of that will be replaced by the aforementioned stalling technique. Exhilarating stuff indeed. It's a curious move for a league that's routinely knocked for lacking excitement and action; increasing idle time by expanding instant replay won't exactly broaden its appeal. And broadening its appeal has never been more important after the alarming findings of an ESPN survey conducted last month. The survey showed that, among children 12-17 years old, Major League Soccer is equally as popular as MLB in the United States. Wait, what? A league that gathers mid-level talent in a sport generally not considered among our country's favorites has equaled MLB in terms of popularity? Not a good sign for baseball's future. Either the game is becoming less accessible than ever or MLB's Director of Marketing needs to be fired. Id speculate that it's the former. All considered, I just don't buy that the benefit of maybe reversing a call every other game is worth the blowback and pains of maintaining the system. Yes, expanded instant replay has worked fairly well in both the NBA and NFL, but there's simply no room for it in a slower-paced sport like baseball. It's bad for the game, it's bad for managers and it's bad for the fans. League execs will eventually come to this realization as well — hopefully sooner than later. Don't be shocked if commissioner Bud Selig and league owners revisit the issue next winter after seeing game durations increase to an all-time high this season. This week in athletics — Edited by Stella Liang Wednesday Thursday Baseball lowa 3 p.m. lowa City Friday No events Track Sun Angel Classic All day Tempe, Ariz. Women's tennis Texas Tech 5 p.m. Lubbock, Texas Baseball TCU 6 p.m. Lawrence Saturday Men's golf Great River Entertainment All day Iowa City Women's rowing Lake Natoma Invite Day one Sacramento, Calif. Track and field Sun Angel Classic All day Tempe, Ariz. Sunday Men's golf Great River Entertainment All day Iowa City Women's tennis TCU 10 a.m. Fort Worth, Texas Women's rowing Lake Natoma Invite Final results Sacramento, Calif. Monday No events Baseball Grand Canyon 6 p.m. Lawrence Tuesday 785-864-4358 Lifeguards, outdoor activity specialists, great summer job, live on-site near Lawrence, KS. Call 800-617-1484 or see www.tallops.org for employment details. 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