Major League Baseball is implementing the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system for the first time this spring after it has been tested in the minor leagues since 2021. Although commissioner Rob Manfred wants it to be implemented full-time next year, some players are not pleased with the new system. In particular, longtime veteran pitcher Max Scherzer, 40, expressed his skepticism after getting a glimpse of the system during his spring training debut. Scherzer was annoyed by the fiasco, especially when the system took longer than the 17-second average it’s taken in the minors. He questioned whether major league umpires are really that bad and if the changes will actually improve the game.
Scherzer sarcastically challenged a pitch of his own during the game, only to lose the challenge. He emphasized the human element of the game and questioned the need to disrupt it with automated calls. While teams will have two challenges per game this spring, only the batter, pitcher, or catcher can challenge a call immediately after it happens, without help from the bench or other players. This is yet another big change to the sport instituted by Manfred, who has already implemented a pitch timer, larger bases, and shift limits in 2023. Despite the changes, fan attendance has increased in the last two years, indicating that fans appreciate the adjustments to the game.
Scherzer voiced his concerns about the ABS challenge system, emphasizing his belief in the abilities of major league umpires and questioning the necessity of automated calls. He noted that the system may result in strikes being changed to balls and vice versa, ultimately leveling out the calls. Scherzer’s skepticism reflects a sentiment shared by other players who appreciate the human element of the game and are wary of the impact of automation on baseball. The introduction of the ABS challenge system marks a significant shift in how calls are made, and it remains to be seen how players and fans will adapt to this new era in baseball.
Despite the skepticism surrounding the ABS challenge system, Major League Baseball has decided to move forward with its implementation this spring. The system, which has been tested in the minor leagues since 2021, will allow teams to challenge calls made by the automated system, with each team having two challenges per game. Only specific players on the field are allowed to initiate a challenge immediately after a call. The introduction of the ABS challenge system represents one of several changes implemented by commissioner Rob Manfred in recent years to improve the game and enhance the fan experience.
As the ABS challenge system is rolled out in the major leagues, players like Max Scherzer are expressing their concerns about the impact of automation on the game. Scherzer’s skepticism about the system reflects a broader debate within the baseball community regarding the role of technology in making calls. While some view automation as a way to improve accuracy and consistency, others, including Scherzer, question its effect on the human element of the game. Despite the mixed reactions to the ABS challenge system, Major League Baseball will continue to monitor its implementation and assess its impact on the sport moving forward.
