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MLB should make these two changes to the ABS challenge system

Zarbok

Zarbok

Freshman
Dec 2, 2022
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In my opinion, I think this would keep the human element alive behind the plate and still be useful.

1. Ump gets the first inning to calibrate their strike zone. That's 20-50 pitches, more than enough to get a feel for how he wants to call the game and still has the "human" factor to it.

2. There needs to be a threshold to overturn the call. 25, 33, 50 percent, something of the sort, of the ball needs to be in the strike zones for it be overturned. This 0.01 inches of the ball over the plate is a strike is stupid.
 
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patdog

Heisman
May 28, 2007
57,082
26,683
113
Maroon13 said:
Meh, ABS needs to call pitches.

The human element still remains as an ump can signal the call to the crowd. Also an Ump can call checked swings, balks, foul tips, foul/fair balls and calls at the plate.
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Yeah. It can feed the call to the umpire in about a second. He can overrule if ABS malfunctions and just misses a call or doesn't make a call. Otherwise ABS calls all balls & strikes.
 
J

johnson86-1

All-Conference
Aug 22, 2012
14,373
4,875
113
Zarbok said:
In my opinion, I think this would keep the human element alive behind the plate and still be useful.

1. Ump gets the first inning to calibrate their strike zone. That's 20-50 pitches, more than enough to get a feel for how he wants to call the game and still has the "human" factor to it.
Click to expand...
This doesn't make any sense. The strike zone should be the strike zone.

Zarbok said:
2. There needs to be a threshold to overturn the call. 25, 33, 50 percent, something of the sort, of the ball needs to be in the strike zones for it be overturned. This 0.01 inches of the ball over the plate is a strike is stupid.
Click to expand...
I think this has some merit. There is some uncertainty with the machine that I assume they have calculated. Perfectly fine taking the position that the error of the machine is much smaller than a human ump, so we're going to use the machine even when it is close enough it in reality is not telling you whether there is a ball or strike. But it also would be ifne to take the position of we're not overturning the ump unless it is are enough in or out that it is definitely a ball or definitely a strike even if you moved the ball to the edge of whatever the uncertainty would be.

Another change they need to make that is sort of nit picky, but my understanding is that they didn't change the rule book to make the strike zone two dimensional. They just effectively made it two dimensional. Going to be some pitches that fall through the back of the zone and are strikes under the rule called a ball because they were still high at the place the ABS is set up.
 
MississippiTexan

MississippiTexan

Sophomore
Jun 11, 2014
122
107
43
Maroon13 said:
Meh, ABS needs to call pitches.

The human element still remains as an ump can signal the call to the crowd. Also an Ump can call checked swings, balks, foul tips, foul/fair balls and calls at the plate.
Click to expand...
MLB is actually testing a check swing challenge system too.

MLB is testing a "Check Swing Challenge" system, often paired with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, using Hawk-Eye cameras to definitively determine if a batter broke their wrists/bat past 45 degrees. Tested in the minors (AFL, FSL) and moving to Triple-A in 2026, it allows players to challenge umpire calls immediately via a, for example, helmet tap.

Key Aspects of ABS Check Swing Testing (2025–2026)
  • Definition: A swing is officially ruled if the bat's barrel travels more than 45 degrees past its final stopping point, monitored by camera tracking.
  • The Process: Umpires make an initial check-swing call, but players can immediately appeal to a video review (often overseen by the same Hawk-Eye system that powers ABS).
  • Implementation: Tested in the 2025 Florida State League/Arizona Fall League, and expanding to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in May 2026.
  • Challenges: Teams generally receive two challenges per game, with a possible third for the final inning if the first two are used by the ninth.
  • Impact: Early tests in the FSL showed a 3% reduction in strikeouts, creating more balls in play.
 
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FormerBully

FormerBully

All-American
Sep 2, 2022
4,378
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Zarbok said:
In my opinion, I think this would keep the human element alive behind the plate and still be useful.

1. Ump gets the first inning to calibrate their strike zone. That's 20-50 pitches, more than enough to get a feel for how he wants to call the game and still has the "human" factor to it.
Click to expand...
The first inning could totally change the way a game goes. You have a job, do it.
 
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Villagedawg

Villagedawg

All-Conference
Nov 16, 2005
2,034
1,983
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I've seen several places claiming that ABS is a two dimensional square zone that sits over the middle of the plate. In other words something could be a strike when it crosses the front of the plate but not a strike by the time it reaches the ABS at the middle. I was all for ABS calling all balls and strikes until I heard this. Is that right? IS ABS not three a dimensional pentagonal prism like the actual strike zone? Or is the two dimensional claim just internet BS?
 
8

8dog

All-American
Feb 23, 2008
14,054
5,966
113
MississippiTexan said:
MLB is actually testing a check swing challenge system too.

MLB is testing a "Check Swing Challenge" system, often paired with the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, using Hawk-Eye cameras to definitively determine if a batter broke their wrists/bat past 45 degrees. Tested in the minors (AFL, FSL) and moving to Triple-A in 2026, it allows players to challenge umpire calls immediately via a, for example, helmet tap.

Key Aspects of ABS Check Swing Testing (2025–2026)
  • Definition: A swing is officially ruled if the bat's barrel travels more than 45 degrees past its final stopping point, monitored by camera tracking.
  • The Process: Umpires make an initial check-swing call, but players can immediately appeal to a video review (often overseen by the same Hawk-Eye system that powers ABS).
  • Implementation: Tested in the 2025 Florida State League/Arizona Fall League, and expanding to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League in May 2026.
  • Challenges: Teams generally receive two challenges per game, with a possible third for the final inning if the first two are used by the ninth.
  • Impact: Early tests in the FSL showed a 3% reduction in strikeouts, creating more balls in play.
Click to expand...
“If the bat’s barrel travels more than 45 degrees past its final stopping point”—-huh?
 
T

TXDawg.sixpack

All-Conference
Apr 10, 2009
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Villagedawg said:
I've seen several places claiming that ABS is a two dimensional square zone that sits over the middle of the plate. In other words something could be a strike when it crosses the front of the plate but not a strike by the time it reaches the ABS at the middle. I was all for ABS calling all balls and strikes until I heard this. Is that right? IS ABS not three a dimensional pentagonal prism like the actual strike zone? Or is the two dimensional claim just internet BS?
Click to expand...
Yes, that's correct. That's my biggest issue with ABS. The zone should be a 3-D volume covering the entire plate, not a 2-D plane in middle of the plate.
 
Bulldog Bruce

Bulldog Bruce

All-American
Nov 1, 2007
4,779
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Please stop with the Human Element :poop:. Every part of any sport that has to do with the players is the human element I go to see. I don't go to see an umpire or ref blow a call or use the rule book as a suggestion. There is already more than enough human element in sports.
 
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Maroon13

Maroon13

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Sep 29, 2022
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Only thing I'd tweak on it, and I'm quoting a radio talk show here, is that if only a portion of the ball hits the zone, it's a strike. Surely it can be adjusted to the full ball inside the zone.

Otherwise we are about to have a pitchers game.
 
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aTotal360

aTotal360

Heisman
Nov 12, 2009
21,847
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Need more human element...

An imperfect game: Selig won't reverse umpire's blown call - Statesboro Herald
 
L

L4Dawg

All-American
Oct 27, 2016
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Zarbok said:
In my opinion, I think this would keep the human element alive behind the plate and still be useful.

1. Ump gets the first inning to calibrate their strike zone. That's 20-50 pitches, more than enough to get a feel for how he wants to call the game and still has the "human" factor to it.

2. There needs to be a threshold to overturn the call. 25, 33, 50 percent, something of the sort, of the ball needs to be in the strike zones for it be overturned. This 0.01 inches of the ball over the plate is a strike is stupid.
Click to expand...
Either totally implement it, or get rid of it. Preferably the latter.
 
D

dickiedawg

All-Conference
Feb 22, 2008
4,278
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Zarbok said:
2. There needs to be a threshold to overturn the call. 25, 33, 50 percent, something of the sort, of the ball needs to be in the strike zones for it be overturned. This 0.01 inches of the ball over the plate is a strike is stupid.
Click to expand...
I don’t understand this. We have to draw a hard line somewhere, why not the actual line?
 
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msstatelp1

All-Conference
Aug 21, 2012
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Zarbok said:
In my opinion, I think this would keep the human element alive behind the plate and still be useful.

1. Ump gets the first inning to calibrate their strike zone. That's 20-50 pitches, more than enough to get a feel for how he wants to call the game and still has the "human" factor to it.

2. There needs to be a threshold to overturn the call. 25, 33, 50 percent, something of the sort, of the ball needs to be in the strike zones for it be overturned. This 0.01 inches of the ball over the plate is a strike is stupid.
Click to expand...
So how much of a football needs to be over the goal line to be a touchdown?
 
Bulldog Bruce

Bulldog Bruce

All-American
Nov 1, 2007
4,779
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Maroon13 said:
Only thing I'd tweak on it, and I'm quoting a radio talk show here, is that if only a portion of the ball hits the zone, it's a strike. Surely it can be adjusted to the full ball inside the zone.

Otherwise we are about to have a pitchers game.
Click to expand...
If A stitch of the ball touches the strikezone, it's a strike. The whole ball does NOT need to be over the plate. That's how it already is.
 
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