Thinking About Instant Replay

As we have seen (in limited numbers) from the poll on the PA homepage, most people are at least open to the idea of some type of instant replay.  In most major sports, including baseball, there is some use of replay; however, I feel like the system could easily be expanded. The tougher question has always been, "How can it be reasonably applied in baseball?"  Well, I mulled it around a bit, and here's what I've come up with.  Let me know if you think this is reasonable.

Up until a few days ago, of course, we simply would have asked Francisco Cervelli what the correct call on the field was.  Unfortunately, Cervelli has taken his thunderous bat, his rocket arm, and his rattlesnakes down to Scranton.  While he is away, I would like to see the following challenge system:

-Each team will get two challenges to use in innings 1-7.  If the challenge is a success, the team will not be punished.  If the challenge is not a success, the challenge will count as the official "mound visit" in their pitching half of the inning.  Meaning, if the pitcher is visited again during the half-inning, he must be removed from the game.

- In the 8th, 9th, and any extra innings, all review will be initiated by a replay official.  This is very similar to footballs "last two minute and overtime" rule.

-Challenges may be used to overturn the following:

     -Fair or foul (on any ball, not just a home run)

     -Safe or out (on any base)

     -If a catch has been made, or if the ball has hit the ground

     -If a player missed a base

     -If a player left a base tagging up too soon

-Challenges may NOT be used to overturn the following:

      -Strikes or balls

      -Balks

      -To overturn any official scoring (error vs. infield hit etc.)

I have probably forgotten to mention a couple of situations, but I think that sums up most of the reasons why we would need replay.  I think that this could be a great improvement to the game.  For those of you who claim that "replay would slow down the game", most of those situations are pretty clear.

With a freeze frame instant replay, it would be easy for umpires to make sure they make the correct safe/out call.  As such, they may spend 45 seconds reviewing the play, then come up with the correct call.  Without replay, the player and manager argue for 2 minutes, someone gets ejected, and the call is still wrong.

Maybe in 10 years after he has put together 48 committees to discuss the problem, I can only hope that Bud Selig puts in place something like this.