My Proposal - REVISED

Automatic review: Home runs, scoring plays, fan interference on a play with runners on base – this will not count as a “team-triggered review” (see “Procedure” below)

Confer first, replay later: all other plays except balls and strikes

Challenges Limit: Two (2) intra-umpiring crew conference calls and one (1) replay challenge per manager per game. The challenge flag triggers the conference. Until the manager is unsuccessful in changing the call on two different plays (success once = one more attempt), the umpiring crew will confer each time the manager throws the flag. It must be thrown in view of the HP, 1B, or 3B umpire after the play is complete (less than 12 seconds is the rule). The manager can ask for a conference nicely if he runs out of calls.

Procedure after the flag is thrown:
A) “Team-triggered Review”:
(1) Timeout called
(2) Crew chief notified
(3) Crew chief–team(s) conference (may include players – see “Historical Games”)
(4) Umps will confer. They can decide to reverse the call w/o replay.
(5) If review: the 3 umps go to T.V. room. ALL angles at ANY speed and ONLY video :: no timers.
(6) After review: flag handed back unless that was the 2nd “call confirmed” (see “Challenges Limit”)
B) “Booth Review” during Postseason and All-Star games:
(1) The two OF umps and a supervisor will now be in the booth communicating to the on-field crew somehow.
(2) Counts as “Automatic review” (see above). If booth confirms “we do not request a review,” then the challenge is “team-triggered”.
(3) Follow appropriate steps from “Procedure A”

Historical games: the pitcher tossing the no-hitter, or the player(s) involved in the milestone (see below), will join his manager to discuss the play-in-question with the crew chief. In a no-hitter situation, this occurs from the top of the 6th inning until the 3rd batter after the first hit (giving the official scorer some time to determine a hit from error).

Calls like [unassisted] triple plays, errorless-streak breaking plays, HR milestones (300, 400, 500, 600), and long hitting streaks can also fall under this category. In those cases (and similar ones), the player(s) involved may join the discussion after the crew chief and manager discuss whether to include the player(s). HOWEVER, during no hitters, this clause should be exercised at the pitcher's discretion.

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Checked swings: HP ump MUST appeal to umpires at 1B or 3B

Promotions: Lottery where the better umpires have a better shot at earning a promotion.

Strike-Zone Evaluations: After each game, MLB should look at the ump's biases regarding the strike zone and whether he is misinterpreting the rules. That way, the strike zone can be made fairer to all.

Postseason experience: Must have three (3) yrs. MLB experience to be sent to a postseason or All-Star game… one 1st-timer and one newbie (2nd through 5th time in a postseason series) allowed. Similar to the lottery for promotions.