This year, we are going to see the first appearance at the major-league level of ABS. That’s the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system, coming to MLB after extensive trials in the minors. It’ll also be getting tried out at spring training, so players can get used to it. Basically, each team has two challenges on an umpire’s ball-strike call per game: only pitchers, catchers and batters can appeal. If they do, ABS is used to determine whether the appeal is justified. If so, that team get to retain
the challenge. It’s certainly going to add some wrinkles to the game, with a tactical element of when and where players choose to use
How will ABS change baseball?
Do you like the basic concept of ABS? Are you worried it’s going to slow down the game? Or is it better that the most egregiously wrong calls get corrected? Will this improve umpire standards, or is it unnecessary scrutiny? Can you see potential abuses? It’s arguably an even bigger change than appeals being allowed in other areas, such as on the base-paths. But it could end up being a nothing-burger. Are you looking forward to it? Feel free to discuss all of the above, or none of the above, in the comments…
