The game of baseball is always changing and evolving. This season we got a big rule change in the form of the ABS challenge system. Giving players the ability to challenge the umpire’s ruling is a game changer. This season, 5,686 calls were overturned around the league.
I wanted to take a look at how successful the Nats were when it came to using the challenge system. In the first year of ABS, there is no true guide on how to effectively use it. That means different teams will take different approaches. With a year of data, I think teams will have a better idea of how to use the system most effectively.
On the season, the Nats were mediocre at best when it came to challenging. Nats hitters were 45% on challenges this season, which ranked 23rd in baseball. Meanwhile, Nationals were 54%, which ranks 22nd in the league. Overall, the Nats were not horrible at using the ABS challenge system, but left plenty to be desired.
In the beginning of the season, the Nats struggled to adjust to the new system. For the first month of play, the Nats were the worst challenging team in baseball. I remember one game against the Phillies during the first week of the season where the Nats ran out of challenges in the second inning.
Hitters were having a hard time picking the right spots to challenge. Keibert Ruiz and Drew Millas were also struggling behind the plate. Millas continued to struggle, with a 43% win rate on the season. That was actually the worst mark of any catcher with at least 50 challenges.
After a tough start, Keibert Ruiz turned into a decent challenger. On the season, Ruiz went 56% on ABS challenges. That is slightly below the 58% average for catchers. Harry Ford was actually the best Nats catcher at using the ABS system, with a 60% win rate.
Ford being the best at using ABS actually makes sense. The ABS challenge system has been in place at the AAA level for a little while now, which makes Ford the most familiar with the procedure. With his experience, Ford had a better feel for when to tap the helmet.
On the hitting side, CJ Abrams was actually one of the game’s best challengers. He challenged 14 times and won 12 of them. Abrams was actually the best hitter in baseball in terms of overturns vs expected, a stat on Baseball Savant. However, it was a mixed bag at best for the rest of the team.
Jorbit Vivas and Nasim Nunez were the worst challengers on the team, going 3 for 11 and 3 for 12 respectively. Maybe they should not have challenging privileges going into next season. James Wood also struggled, going 8 for 23 on the year.
Overall, I thought the Nats got better at challenging as the year went on but still have plenty of room to improve. It was very interesting to watch this new system for the first time. ABS provides a new element when it comes to accuracy and strategy. I am excited to see how the Nats adapt to the system as the years go on. It is a fun subplot to follow around the game.
