The MLB and the TV Networks (in an edict to the umps) has been trying to speed up the games for a decade now. They are not going to slow it down with team challenges because if you give them to them they will use them for more than just challenging plays and since there is no penalty you can levy for challenging a play that is not reverse they will NEVER allow that to happen!

Imagine game 7 and the pitcher is hot mowing down your team.
You challenge a routine ground out to first not because you think it was close but because you want to break the rythmn and feel of the hot pitcher.

Without a penalty for using a challenge for no good reason or for challenging a play that was called right thats what will happen. You give them challenge flags and they will use them!

The best way is to have a umpire in the booth that looks at the replays and decides if a play was close enough to look at!

But if you ask me I think the BEST way to get better officiating is to allow teams to challenge plays AFTER the fact, Let the MLB review it and if the replay says it was wrong, note it on the Umps record and at the end of the year if you get so many challenges that would have been reversed that Ump gets fired!

It will stop the snap judgements from some ump, stop players and mamagers from being thrown out so quick, and keep the Umps honest in trying to get it right so they can keep their job!

But the Ump Union will NEVER go for that!

All managers are allowed to challenge any play deemed challengeable (which MLB can decide, but let’s say fair vs foul, home run vs not, safe or out on a throw/tag/catch). The first failed challenge (manager was wrong, play stands as called), and the pitching coach cannot visit the mound for a full inning (6 total outs). The second failed challenge and the manager is ejected and the team is no longer allowed to challenge a call during that game.

Where the NHL’s method comes in is how the challenge is reviewed. All games will add an extra umpire, isolated from the game, in a booth in the press box. Any challenge will be relayed to him, and his ruling will be final after using instant replay. Also, in the Playoffs only (too much during the regular season), any scoring play will be automatically reviewed by an official at MLB headquarters who can signal to pause the game if a detailed review is deemed necessary (there’s the 30 seconds between plays for him to review the play already, which should be enough for most plays).

I agree that we can’t go down the slippery slope on this. I think this method – with a punishment system like the NFL’s timeout penalties – will prevent games from getting too long (unless the umpiring is absolutely atrocious), keep managers from challenging a play every inning, and allow the integrity of the game and umpires remain intact.