In the immediacy of greater concerns yesterday, I forgot about an important news story that came out early in the week: for the remainder of the year, Triple-A will go to the ABS challenge system full time, rather than the 50/50 split of “all ABS” on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and “ABS challenge system” on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. This change is a very strong indication that, whenever an automated strike-calling system comes to MLB — and it could be soon — it will come in the form of a challenge system.
I know there are some fans who will be disappointed with this — those who focus solely on “getting it right.” But J.J. Cooper has produced a great piece at Baseball America that I believe gets at why the full ABS system has been almost universally disliked by the players who have experienced it, while the challenge system has been quite popular. While the ABS system may or may not be said to “get it right” when it comes to each individual pitch (though, even there, players have had disagreements with some egregious breaking ball calls that tick the edge of the zone, though their overall arc looks nothing like a strike to normal eyes). But the overall product that has been produced by the system is essentially everything that a wide swath of fans dislike: three true outcome baseball that has driven walks, strikeouts, and home runs skyrocketing, while all other types of plays have been diminished. As Will Wilson said to me a year ago when I asked him about it — he loved the ABS as a hitter, but hated it as a baseball fan. That’s been a predominant feeling among players, coaches, fans, scouts, and virtually everyone else exposed to Triple-A baseball over the last two years.
Graphic from Baseball America: Left: Strikes resulting from ABS system; Right: Strikes resulting from challenge system.
There will be plenty of critical voices when the ABS challenge system eventually makes its way to MLB, from people who think this change doesn’t go far enough. But I think this is a “be careful what you wish for” situation. That the game produced by the ABS system has been disliked intensely by both participants and observers should be an important part of the discussion of any change, which, after all, will be intended to make the game a better viewing experience.
HITTER of the NIGHT: Christian Koss (Rich), 4 for 5, 3 2b (8), 2 R, 4 RBI
PITCHER of the NIGHT: Carson Whisenhunt (Eug), 4.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K
In news a little closer to home, we have bodies on the move again! AND making their new-level debuts immediately. So let’s get to the lines and see what there is to be seen.
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