MLB beginning this season has limited teams to 30 seconds "to decide whether to ask for a replay challenge," and the Red Sox have "asked NESN to have the slow-motion replays shown early in the 30-second window," according to Peter Abraham of the BOSTON GLOBE. NESN Marketing & Communications Manager Gary Roy said that network officials met with the Red Sox during the offseason and "discussed replays." Red Sox manager John Farrell said that the decision on whether to challenge a call "usually comes down to slow-motion replays shown by the network carrying the game." Meanwhile, Roy said that for non-disputed plays, NESN "wants to show more 'real time' replays to showcase the athleticism of the players" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/6).
MAKING ADJUSTMENTS: In Detroit, George Sipple noted Tigers defensive coach Matt Martin "watches the replays and relays what he sees" to manager Brad Ausmus. However, Martin said that 30 seconds "might not be enough time to make the right call on whether to challenge because he's at the mercy of replays shown on TV." He added that the "most informed decisions usually come from the phantom cam view ... and that doesn't always get shown in 30 seconds" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 3/4).
