Story by
Major League Baseball should use ABS on every pitch or not at all
- Story by
- Major League Baseball should use ABS on every pitch or not at all
There's no way this game show version of Automated Ball-Strike is going to be what baseball is still using in 2035.
Eventually they're going to get to using ABS on every pitch. So how about skipping to the end right now.
Advertisement
ABS debuted this season in Major League Baseball to great fanfare and plenty of headlines already.
The novelty has been interesting, but this can't be the final product. The concept that the most accurate information is readily available, but is only used a limited number of times when asked for is illogical.
Human judgement should either be part of the balls and strikes equation or not. If baseball sees value to different umps having different zones, that's fine. But then they have to live with some inevitable mistakes. And it would be fine if that's what they were sticking with.
But if MLB wants to use the technology, then use it all the way.
Advertisement
Baseball could get every call exactly right on every pitch. Whether it's a sound, a light, a vibration or whatever, the Hawkeye system can alert the home plate umpire instantly whether it was a strike or not and he can gesture accordingly.
A player would know from one night to the next what a strike looks like, no matter who is on the mound or behind the plate.
The 2026 rules are a strange hybrid that still has plenty of missed calls that go through and rubs the umpires' noses in the ones that don't.
Under the current rules, it makes sense not to challenge a pitch unless an overturn would create or negate a walk or a strikeout.
Advertisement
But an umpire's mistake can change the entire tenor of an inning, simply by botching strike one. Everything from how the pitcher works to how the batter protects the plate and when/if a runner attempts a steal is affected if that close first pitch to a hitter is called on the corner or just off it.
The spotlight created by the current system is diminishing confidence in the umpires, among the fans, the players and maybe umpires themselves. When the umpire makes a correct call, even a tough call, that doesn't get challenged, the moment passes with no fanfare. And most of the calls are right.
But now with ABS, there are these TA-DAH! moments on the scoreboard that make the umpires look incompetent.
As soon as two calls are overturned in one game, everyone is ready to pounce on an umpire for anything close. It changes the game-watching experience.
Advertisement
Letting ABS call every pitch wouldn't put anybody out of work. In addition to relaying the automated pitch calls, the home plate ump will still decide check swings, balks and the safe/out determination on plays at the plate.
It's never good for any sport when officiating is a trending topic of conversation. So far this season CB Bucknor has been talked about more than Shohei Ohtani .
This is a problem that's easy to fix.
Outtakes from a busy week ...
An unusual club
The Red Sox started their eighth consecutive different Opening Day second baseman this season. Not since Eduardo Nuñez in 2018 and 2019 did the Red Sox start the same second baseman in back to back years. It's not a terribly distinguished list.
Advertisement
-
2026 - Isiah Kiner-Falefa
-
2025 - Kristian Campbell
-
2024 - Enmanuel Valdez
-
2023 - Christian Arroyo
-
2022 - Trevor Story
-
2021 - Kiké Hernandez
-
2020 - Jose Peraza
-
2019 - Eduardo Nuñez
Dumb + Dumb = ?
April Fool's Day is dumb. The Washington Wizards are dumb. What happens when you put 'em together.
On Wednesday, they staged a blindfold halfcourt shot event at halftime. They had three fans taking halfcourt shots with their eyes covered trying to win $10,000.
None of the shooters came close, but after the third shooter's shot sailed high and wide, the mascots etc, began jumping up and down pretending he'd made it and presented him with a giant check.
Then they showed him the replay of the miss on the scoreboard and ripped the check away enraging the crowd and much of social media.
Advertisement
After the fact, the Wizards said the whole thing was an act and that the shooters were in on the gag. But they apologized anyway.
The bigger question is: Who thought this was funny? The Wizards have the worst record in the NBA. What possible benefit does a terrible team get from pretending to unlikeable?
The Top 5
Top 5 Patriots Cornerbacks in the Belichick-Brady era
New England Patriots' Stephon Gilmore (24) intercepts a pass intended for Los Angeles Rams' Brandin Cooks (12), during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 53 football game Sunday, Feb. 3, 2019, in Atlanta.. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)AP
Advertisement
In honor of Gilmore's retirement, here's where he fits among the best Patriots cornerbacks of the era.
5— Asante Samuel
4— Malcolm Butler
3— Darrelle Revis
2— Stephon Gilmore
1— Ty Law
Real Jeopardy! Clue
Sports clues from actual editions of America's favorite quiz show. As always, mind the date
CATEGORY: REELIN' IN THE YEAR $600
Date: June 6, 2025
The Titanic goes down; Fenway Park goes up (at the cost of $650,000)
— Answer below
Today in Massachusetts Sports History
April 3
1971 —Bobby Orr had three assists in a Bruins win at Toronto to become the NHL's first players with 100 assists in a season.
Advertisement
Lightning round
-
Tiger Woods' continued plunge from icon to cautionary tale is hard to watch. Hopefully whatever treatment he's receiving works.
-
I left three voicemails for the spokesman for the Archdiocese of Boston over the last two weeks asking if there was any leeway for Catholics, who go to the Fenway Park opener on Good Friday, to order a hot dog on a day of no meat. I got no response, so you're on your own.
-
Give me Arizona over UConn on Monday night and UCLA over UConn on Sunday.
-
Tanner Jeannot looks like he could be a character in Shoresy.
-
When two of the goals are empty-netters, it should be a visor trick.
Real Jeopardy! Question:
What is 1912?
Finally...
Happy Fenway Opening Day to those who celebrate.
More Friday Outtakes
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
