MLB allows limited video replays

Major League Baseball has reversed its long-standing opposition to video replay and will allow umpires to review home run calls in games from Thursday.

MLB club general managers voted 25-5 to adopt the technology 10 months ago.

"I believe that the technology that we now have merits the use of instant replay on a very limited basis," said MLB commissioner Bud Selig.

"It will ensure that the proper call is made on home run balls and will not cause a significant delay to the game."

Three series are scheduled to start Thursday, with Philadelphia at the Chicago Cubs, Minnesota at Oakland and Texas at the LA Angels. For other games, replays will be available to umpires starting Friday.

For now, video will be used only on so-called 'boundary calls', such as determining whether fly balls went over the fence, whether potential home runs were fair or foul and whether there was fan interference on potential home runs.

Selig, who opposed replay in the past, said he won't allow its use to expand to additional types of calls.

"My opposition to unlimited instant replay is still very much in play," Selig said.

"I really think that the game has prospered for well over a century now doing things the way we did it."