An automated ball-strike system may be headed to Major League Baseball sometime in the future, but any such changes are unlikely to take place by the 2025 season....
Like @platypode, I don’t really see framing as a core part of the game that needs to be protected. If I’m not mistaken, umps used to tell catchers “don’t move your glove” if they did try to frame up a pitch, so framing doesn’t have that much of a history in the game. It’s a product of the analytics and player empowerment trends, I think. I do recognize it as an important labour issue to catchers and pitchers.
I think I’m favour of ABS when used as a challenge system (versus as used for all pitches). I don’t want to remove the human element of calling balls and strikes altogether - that human aspect is special to me. Many of us complain about human umps, and if we eliminate humans calling balls and strikes, I’m concerned that will negatively affect the development of umpiring talent in years to come (i.e., use it or lose it).
One of the issues with low-quality balls and strikes calls at the MLB level is that umps don’t seem to have any accountability. A challenge system would introduce some objective feedback at least that comes from the MLB and is publicly available to fans, analysts, and reporters
Commissioner: Automated ball-strike system a possibility, but unlikely to take place by '25 (www.mlb.com)
An automated ball-strike system may be headed to Major League Baseball sometime in the future, but any such changes are unlikely to take place by the 2025 season....
Dress to impress? The Blue Jays debut the Home Run Jacket on a night that the offense comes alive against Chicago (lemmy.ca)
The Blue Jays launched an updated version of the Home Run Jacket in game 47 of the season today, the 3rd of a 3-game series with the Chi Sox....