As long as ABS is being used for challenges, why not just use it for every pitch? Easy to communicate the call to the home plate umpire so they could signal the call on every pitch.

I assume that is eventually the plan. This is just the pilot phase.

3 minutes ago, tray said:

As long as ABS is being used for challenges, why not just use it for every pitch? Easy to communicate the call to the home plate umpire so they could signal the call on every pitch.

The players apparently didn't want it. There were some fears that ABS would cause some weird looking strikes because of how they're caught. Now that we've gone through ABS for 2 months, that's obviously not the case.

I hope they expand it to fully automated soon.

Just now, chw42 said:

The players apparently didn't want it. There were some fears that ABS would cause some weird looking strikes because of how they're caught. Now that we've gone through ABS for 2 months, that's obviously not the case.

I hope they expand it to fully automated soon.

Likewise.

ABS is horrible, they should get rid of it.

Just now, Green Line said:

ABS is horrible, they should get rid of it.

This is a big boomer take.

1 minute ago, DoUEvenShift said:

This is a big boomer take.

I'm not a boomer, but its unnecessary. Everyone wants everything to be correct at all times.

2 minutes ago, Green Line said:

I'm not a boomer, but its unnecessary. Everyone wants everything to be correct at all times.

...yes?

2 minutes ago, Green Line said:

I'm not a boomer, but its unnecessary. Everyone wants everything to be correct at all times.

So are you arguing for a system open to wrong calls just cause its a human over a robot?

Just now, DoUEvenShift said:

So are you arguing for a system open to wrong calls just cause its a human over a robot?

Why dont we just replace the players too at this point

14 minutes ago, Green Line said:

ABS is horrible, they should get rid of it.

Since MLB can't or won't fire incompetent umpires like C.V. Bucknor and back in the day Joe West and Angel Hernandez, we need the ABS system more than ever.

I don't like full ABS, and neither did the players when they tested it.

In the KBO where they use it, pitchers are apparently min-maxing for pitches that clip the zone by a micron in a way that's a less than engaging watch.

I think the challenge system is a good compromise, though maybe I'd bump the amount of challenges up.

21 minutes ago, Autumn Dreamin said:

I don't like full ABS, and neither did the players when they tested it.

In the KBO where they use it, pitchers are apparently min-maxing for pitches that clip the zone by a micron in a way that's a less than engaging watch.

I think the challenge system is a good compromise, though maybe I'd bump the amount of challenges up.

I thought I would prefer full ABS, but the challenges are so much fun that I want to keep this system.

1) It actually makes me appreciate how good some umps are.

2) The players having to make the split second challenge decisions is a fun mental game. Fans that bemoan the DH replacing the "strategic" element should absolutely love the addition of challenges / ABS.

3) Steve Stone laughing about the Mariners not having an ABS challenge late in the game the other night because they just wasted one was hilarious.

Keep it how it is. This is the rare case when a 5% better optimal outcome isn't worth the loss of sporting intrique and honing of skills. The challenge should be a skill.

38 minutes ago, Quin said:

I thought I would prefer full ABS, but the challenges are so much fun that I want to keep this system.

1) It actually makes me appreciate how good some umps are.

2) The players having to make the split second challenge decisions is a fun mental game. Fans that bemoan the DH replacing the "strategic" element should absolutely love the addition of challenges / ABS.

3) Steve Stone laughing about the Mariners not having an ABS challenge late in the game the other night because they just wasted one was hilarious.

Yeah, it adds a fun layer of strategy and fans get into the replays. Umps also do get the live feedback, and it's apparently leading to improved performance. I would raise the limit from 2 but other than that I'm happy with it.

Not sure I love the check swing challenges being tested though. The idea of it is good, but the line they're using is pretty favorable to hitters.

2 hours ago, DoUEvenShift said:

This is a big boomer take.

Bring back pitchers hitting!

3 hours ago, Green Line said:

ABS is horrible, they should get rid of it.

Horrible is letting a terrible umpire like Jen Pawol dictate the outcome of a game. She’s like this behind the plate, and there are obviously other umps just as bad as her…

Edited 1 hour ago1 hr by WhiteSox2023

I honestly really like the challenge system. It adds a whole new dynamic to watching games in person when that slow reveal hits the Jumbotron.