SPANISH HARLEM — I’m here to say definitely YES, and here’s why: it gives players an option they never had before. Once a challenge is made, the process is super quick, and a call can either stand or be corrected. With that said, let’s look at why this is a win-win for baseball.
The Players
Nothing can be more frustrating than watching an umpire continue to call a bad pitch a strike during a game. You either had to accept what was being done or make your case to the umpire that the pitch was not a strike but there was no way to change it. I’m sure there are home plate umpires who are reasonable and will hear a player out, then again there are some that will have none of it and throw that player or manager out of the game.
We have all been there before, pissed that an umpire can consistently make incorrect calls and get away with it without any repercussion. Now the players have a way to fight back and it’s not only the batters that are reaping the benefits, pitchers as well. For me it improves the game for both sides of the ball and will be net positive in the long run.
Nothing is more frustrating than watching an umpire repeatedly call a bad pitch a strike during a game. Previously, players either had to accept it or argue their case — with no real way to change the call. Some umpires might listen. Others might toss you.
The Umpires
Any fan will admit it hurts to lose a big moment — whether it’s a key at-bat or a potential game-winning situation — because of a bad call. Instant replay was implemented for this exact reason. While it’s not as fast as the ABS Challenge, it has made the game fairer overall.
Yes, this system might make umpires look bad when they miss calls. But this shouldn’t be about their feelings or egos. If they miss calls, the goal should be to get them right.
Every umpire should have the same strike zone. For a long time, we’ve known that’s not always the case.
Final Result
You only have two challenges per team and if you choose incorrectly, you wasted a challenge so there is a thought process from players on when and where to use them. It has been fun so far to see this play out and it be interesting to see which teams will benefit from it but all in all good for Major League Baseball.
That’s it for now, please come back tomorrow for more great content from Jackson Sternberg.
