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Major League Baseball wants to implement instant replay by Aug. 1, according to two high-ranking officials within the World Umpires Association.

The officials said MLB approached the umpires Wednesday to request that replay be used on "boundary calls," which include whether a home run clears an outfield wall or if a potential home run is fair or foul.

The officials requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations that still must take place between MLB and the WUA before replay can be implemented.

"It's all premature," MLB spokesman Rich Levin said. "Nothing has been decided yet."

Not only must the issue be bargained between the two sides, but details would have to be worked out, such as whether replays would be originated by umpires or from a manager's request or challenge, what video feeds would be available and whether calls would be made by an umpire on site or at a central command center.

Major league general managers voted 25-5 during their annual meetings last November to ask MLB to explore the possibility of using replay on the boundary calls. The GMs cited the National Hockey League's system of having a command center at its offices in Toronto to review whether pucks enter the net.

One of the umpires union officials said MLB first floated the replay issue at meetings with umpires before this season, including the possibility of establishing a similar command center at the MLB offices in New York.

The replay discussion increased this season after several disputed home run calls, including two in three games at Yankee Stadium last month.

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Replay eventually would have to be approved by the unions for players and umpires, and possibly in a vote by owners.

Solomon said if replay couldn't be put in place for the start of next season, it was possible it could make its debut in the postseason. A baseball executive told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney that replay is not likely to be implemented in 2008.

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The following is the text of a memo to Major League Baseball umpires from their union outlining how the instant replay system currently being considered by MLB might work:

Major League Baseball is proposing to roll out an instant replay system as early as this summer. Here is a summary of the system that is currently being considered by the league:

How soon does MLB want to implement instant replay?
August 1, 2008.

What calls would be subject to instant replay?
Whether possible homers are fair or foul. So-called "boundary" calls -- whether balls clear fences, leave playing fields, hit poles, or are affected by fan interference.

Is instant replay mandatory in these situations?
No, instant replay will be available for use at the sole discretion of the crew chief if there is uncertainty among the crew as to what happened.

What camera feeds will be available for instant replay?
Whatever feeds are available for each game  television broadcast feeds, home and visiting team feeds, and MLB.com feeds.

How will instant replay work?
MLB is in the process of setting up an instant replay video "war" room at MLB Advanced Media's offices. The war room will be staffed by a replay official (at this point, MLB is saying that there will be only one replay official on duty at any one time) and several video technicians. At least initially, and for an undetermined period of time thereafter, the eight current group supervisors will take turns serving as the replay official for one week every couple of months or so. Later, it is anticipated that there will be a transition to former umpires, who would be properly trained as replay officials.

In the event a crew chief decides to use instant replay, the crew chief would use a dedicated communications link that will be available in each ball park to contact the replay official. The replay official will tell the crew chief what the replay official sees on the video replay or replays. The replay official will only report what he sees on the replay video or videos, and will not offer any advice or recommendation as to what the call should be. Based on all the information available to the crew chief (including what the crew saw in real time, and what the replay official sees on video), the crew chief will decide whether there is "clear and convincing evidence" that the original call by the crew is correct or incorrect. The original call would be reversed only if the crew chief felt there was a "clear error" on the original call.

The effect of any overturned call (for example, the placement of runners and the batter) would be governed by all current rules, any new rules specifically developed in connection with instant replay, and the crew chief's judgment.

There would be no limit on the number of times that a crew chief could use instant replay in a game, but MLB believes that instant replay would be used only about 10 times per season.

A crew chief's decision to use or not use instant replay on a particular call would be final, and not subject to second-guessing by team or league personnel. Team personnel would not have any right to demand instant replay.

A crew chief's decision on a call after using instant replay would be final and not subject to further challenge or dispute by team personnel.

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Major League Baseball reversed its long-standing opposition to instant replay and will allow umpires to check video on home run calls in series that start Thursday.

Commissioner Bud Selig was scheduled to make the announcement at 5 p.m. ET Tuesday.

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

The start date comes nearly 10 months after general managers voted 25-5 to use the technology and following MLB agreements with the unions for umpires and for players.

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

Video will be collected at the office of Major League Baseball Advanced Media in New York. If the crew chief at a game decides replay needs to be checked, umpires will leave the field, technicians at MLBAM will show umpires the video and the crew chief will make the call.