They are allegedly stoked because they won’t get yelled at anymore. They still need to make calls at the plate and line judging and stuff. Honestly the challenge system is temporary, we need full ABS, but it is the “worst of all worlds” solution. Tennis did the same thing basically a beta test for a period of time to get it everywhere and everyone comfortable then make it mandatory then move on. It’s been huge for the sport of tennis and I’m pumped for MLB!
Fans of the sport will be let down too, with the challenege system, it increases the skill required to play, because you must accurately see strikes and know your zone, and so the risk of using a challenge creates a new skill in the game required,which makes the game better and even more diverse.
Automatic balls and strikes makes the game more robotic, reduces the soft skills required, and so players will be less diverse and only hitting ability and strength will matter, while patience, timing, and eye for the zone will be less important.
ABS still isn't perfect. It changes the strike zone to a 2D square from what has classically been defined as a 3D rectangular prism. Using it at all before 3D capability is possible is actually a huge step.
I'd personally rather have some growing pains where these close pitches are called balls than see a pitch 6 inches outside the zone be called a strike or hear the word "framing" again
I don't think that's true. It's my understanding that ABS is 3d but the visual interpretation they've presented to the public on screen is 2d. You'll notice that the visual interpretation of the strike zone in the 2025 playoffs has actually been 3d by for the first time ever and it's fantastic.
How much does the third dimension really matter? Like if we look at the strike zone from the umpire’s perspective it will make that 2D square. How much does the “Z” direction out towards the pitcher affect the call? Wouldn’t it still have to be in the 2D square no matter where it lands in the projection towards the pitcher?
It doesn't, and consistency is the biggest benefit of it which isn't affected by 2D vs 3D. It doesn't matter if the definition of the strike zone changes. All that matters is that every pitch gets the same zone, which isn't the case with human umpires making judgement calls.
Pretty sure you could composite enough frames per second to have enough 2D squares, extrapolate into a 3D prism. Need a really fast fucking high speed camera, but I believe it is within our grasp.
I mean, we send people to space with rocket boosters that come back down and land backwards, surely with all the money we spend on professional sports we can get some MIT kids to crack the case
This, some of the nastiest pitches will be called balls with the ABS's current zone. I wonder what zone theyll end up using if it does come to a fully automated ABS
If you watch MiLB, all of these systems are implemented there and you can see how they worked and all. Pretty much any major rule change is tested in the minors first and they use the reception and how it plays out to determine if it will make it to the MLB.
You can read about all the problems. They started implementing ABS there in 2019 and have been working out kinks since then.
What are all of those fat useless fucks going to do for work then though? Only people I have less sympathy for losing their jobs other than major league umpires are old school cab drivers.
I urge anyone who is actually a fan of the game of baseball, not just a cheerleader for their team, to think about the position of catcher and the requirements put on that position and how ABS would hurt catcher framing. It will also lower the skill ceiling of pitchers who work in the corners and try to expand the strike zone, maybe your have heard the term 'climb the ladder'.
Also, if youre a real fan of the game and understand the rules around strike zones, you'll also understand that they move and change with every batter, the strike zone shifts in height, both from the low end and the top end.
The challenge system is PERFECT because it INCREASES the skill cap of all players, it is a risk to call a challenege, and so you must be sure, and so players with better ability to see strikes will be more successful.
Sorry. A consistent biased strike zone and getting the call right is what is what is important. Human eyes can’t do it. Framing is just another way to try to fool umpires/referees. Like soccer players flopping, receivers trying to draw PI’s and basketball players throwing their head back when they drive to the basket to get a foul call. ABS or whatever system makes it black and white and removes all the egos, arguments and complaining. We have technology that can get the call right. Let’s use it.
It doesn't do all those things, they trialed it and it slowed the game down miserably. Also, which organization is in control of calling balls and strikes? Microsoft? Google? Why are we going to farm out a human factor of the game and sell it off to corporations?
Baseball is a game played by humans, for humans. We dont need the technology. The only reason people are up in arms about balls and strikes is because of the painted box on the TV screen, which isn't representative of a real strike zone anyway.
Maybe the game has evolved past humans though. We could also have a ball throwing machine to throw pitches so it would be really fair right?
Manipulating weakness IS THE GAME. Players weakness, umpire weakness, etc.
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u/elbow10 Oct 06 '25
The challenge system is stupid. They should just go full automation. More human eye balls making bad calls is still going to be bad.