MLB works on replay

Even before this week’s dizzying succession of blown home run calls, Major League Baseball officials were working toward a plan that could implement instant replay – for disputed home runs only – into the 2009 regular season.

The specifics are not close to being completed, an official familiar with the situation said Thursday. But as ESPN.com reported, the Arizona Fall League, World Baseball Classic and spring training action would be natural forums to test-drive the procedures before introducing them into games of record.

The potential of action on the instant-replay front thrilled baseball people throughout the industry, as few players or officials still subscribed to the notion that the game was better off without replay.

“I like that,” New York manager Joe Girardi said before the Yankees played Baltimore. “I think it should be for the home run and the home run only. I actually think it’ll be a quicker decision and speed up the game, and I know that’s important to baseball. And the call would be right, always.”

On Sunday night, umpire Bob Davidson, the chief of his crew, overturned third-base umpire Mike Reilly and turned a Carlos Delgado three-run home run into a foul ball at Yankee Stadium. Replays indicated that the ball hit the foul ball.

Commissioner Bud Selig had long been an opponent of instant replay, but he has softened his stance in the last year. Officials have been working on this issue since the general managers’ meetings last November, when the GMs voted 25-5 in favor of instituting replay for home runs.

Yankees’ Hawkins suspended

Yankees pitcher LaTroy Hawkins was suspended for three games and fined $2,000 by MLB, which said he intentionally threw at Baltimore’s Luke Scott. Hawkins asked the players’ association to appeal, and the suspension will be delayed until the appeal is resolved or dropped.

Earlier this month, Yankees reliever Kyle Farnsworth had his three-game suspension for throwing behind Boston’s Manny Ramirez reduced to one game.

Fatal fall at Turner Field

Alcohol was a factor in the death of a 25-year-old man who fell down a stairwell at Turner Field during Wednesday night’s game between the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets.

Justin Hayes of Cumming, Ga., suffered head injuries when he fell about 150 feet from the club level to the landing on the field level during the eighth inning.

Alcohol was a factor,” said Atlanta police department spokesman Ronald Campbell.

Twins infield crumbles

Another problem arose for Minnesota’s unstable middle infield as shortstop Adam Everett was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right shoulder. .

Nick Punto (hamstring) and Matt Tolbert (thumb) are already on the DL.