Joe Torre calls instant replay ‘complicated’

Joe Torre met with the media on Wednesday at baseball’s winter meetings and discussed instant replay.

Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports’ Hardball Talk has the scoop:

"Torre said that the matter was discussed at length with managers and general managers here this morning and that, while the league has given general approval of a challenge-based system like the one recently tested in the Arizona Fall League, there are still a number of issues that need to be finalized with respect to implementation. Torre said he is confident, however, that replay will be approved and in place for spring training and the 2014 season.The challenge system — as opposed to any number of “eye in the sky” or fifth umpire-in-the-booth scenarios — seems unlikely to be changed, even if the specifics of what can and cannot be challenged are still in flux. A baseball source told me that there has been extensive discussion about something other than a challenge system, but that the consensus is still that a challenge system is still preferable. A big reason for this the time between the end of the play and initiation of the challenge. A manager may be expected to challenge swiftly, replay officials may deliberate more. During that deliberation a pitch may already be thrown."

Baseball replays seems pretty cut and dry, so it doesn’t make sense that it is so “complicated.” However, it’s tough to complain since replay is finally coming to baseball.