Why the ABS system is good for baseball

This season has had a large change in MLB spring training, the testing of the Automated Ball-Strike challenge system.

A system that has been implemented in the minor leagues for multiple seasons now has made its way to spring training.

How does it work?

Each team has two challenges each game to challenge the umpire’s call of balls or strikes. The pitcher, catcher or batter may challenge the call; then, the home plate umpire will announce the challenge and receive the correct call from an earpiece and announce the result of the challenge.

If correct, the team shall retain the challenge to use later, otherwise, they will lose their challenge.

This system has created a whole new spectacle to watch during spring training, as MLB players have their first experiences with a system that could be adopted by the MLB in the coming years.

Each team and its players have different stances on the ABS challenge system and the entire concept of an automated ball-strike system. Some teams have rejected this system, such as Terry Francona’s Reds, who does not want his players to utilize the system as it is not a strategy that will be available to them during the regular season.

During the beginning of spring training, multiple questions about ABS have been answered. Concerns over things such as the time it would take to challenge balls and strikes were a large cause for apprehension, but it has been undeniably expedient while providing an aspect of transparency and truth for the fallible home plate umpire.

Major League Baseball should adopt the ABS system because it provides the league with another aspect of correctness during games while also not completely doing away with umpires and allowing for teams to have to be strategic and cognizant of the number of challenges they have and of the situations they would like to use them in.

Too many times has an important game been ended or decided by a regrettably incorrect call. This system would fix that by allowing a team to correct that call by utilizing their challenge, which means they can only continue to challenge if the calls continue to be incorrect, which in every essence means that the challenges will result in the truth.

The major concern with this system is its effects on pitchers who have made a career out of using their pitches to deceive both batters and umpires to expand their zone.

The limitation of challenges instead of a “full ABS” system allows for these pitchers to still utilize that strategy and the psychological aspect of pitching to create strikes outside of the zone but have the consequence of getting those calls reversed by challenges.

The ABS system is a system that currently is relatively unknown, but through its testing in multiple seasons in the minor leagues has seen success and if it is provided the opportunity for continued use in spring training, the adoption of the system will be not only likely, but inevitable.

We should welcome that day because though the game will be less traditional and more technological, it will also be more correct and strategic, which is something that will enhance the game of baseball and encourage growth and intrigue in the sport.

Massimo Manfra is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mgm6116@psu.edu.