For the upcoming MLB season, there will be an improvement in communication between umpires and those in attendance and watching on TV or listening on radio.

According to ESPN’s Pedro Gomez, umpires will wear microphones starting this coming season allowing them to address video review calls and explain rules and replay decisions, much like the NFL has done for year.

Many feel this is long overdo, as baseball has been the worst sport in communicating video results and the rules that support it to fans. Much of this was due to the fact that umpires were unable to communicate with the public, but this will be rectified in 2020.This leaves fans and media alike to guess why certain calls changed and others did not. Controversial calls were even more vexing because it left fans to wonder why a certain call was upheld or reversed.

To illustrate how far behind MLB is in this matter, the NFL has used their current replay system since 1986. Challenges were added later (in 1999), but the communication to the public was always made. Even referees in the NHL explain calls to the public especially on scoring plays. The NBA currently does not place microphones on their on-court officials.

Hopefully, MLB’s new system will alleviate some obvious unknowns to the public and make the game better overall.