Fans loved how MLB's new ABS challenge system exposed the umpire's terrible call in real time
If you have tuned in for any of the spring training games thus far, you've probably noticed that MLB has started testing an automated strike zone. And the best part about the system may be that umpires are getting a dose of accountability in real time.
That's exactly what happened on Sunday.
As part of the ABS system being tested in 60% of spring training games, teams are allocated two challenges for balls and strikes (retained with a successful challenge). With Andy Pages at the plate for the Dodgers, the outfielder took exception when home plate umpire Nate Tomlinson rung him up for a bases-loaded strikeout.
Pages immediately tapped his helmet to signal for a challenge, and for good reason. Tomlinson was nowhere close with the call, and the umpire got to see that mistake right away.
Umps now have to see how bad their call is in front of everyone. Respect pic.twitter.com/693L36bBwC
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) February 23, 2025
Honestly, this beats the regular challenges because the umpires are communicating with the replay center and not always looking at the videoboard. With ABS, the umps get to see the mistake plastered on a big screen.
Now, MLB is only testing this system, and we won't see it in regular season games until 2026 at the earliest. But fans already seem to be enjoying it so far.
This was how Twitter/X reacted
He must have known what was coming. https://t.co/0abBYmf4XF pic.twitter.com/M2Wm69Vgew
— Former A's Fan by Design (@AsFanByDesign) February 24, 2025
I love the introduction of the automated strike zone and challenge, but with the use of so many cameras/lasers, etc., you gotta tell the people how many inches the Ump missed by.
Increases transparency and feedback for the Ump, pitcher and player. Easy fix. https://t.co/lNPeGjhW3m
— Bret Gavin McGaughey (@therealmcgoy) February 24, 2025
This is a great advancement. Accountability for umpires. About damn time. https://t.co/GSofOdiaOk
— Bobby Gould (@Smith4Gm) February 24, 2025
Umps watching a machine tell them they're blind in front of 20,000 people: pic.twitter.com/bqe0MVzlxD https://t.co/rm4zDkz97h
— Pathfinder (@rdsp0ster) February 24, 2025
This is the best thing to happen to sports in a long, long time. https://t.co/LhVTepPnAw
— ßïllÿ Wätsön ⁹⁹⁹ (@MrGoontronics) February 24, 2025
Man, it's such a shame we didn't get to see Angel Hernandez call a game with this technology and see him try to figure out how to eject a camera. https://t.co/jFO3dQOLBi
— Chad Willis (@ChadWillis) February 24, 2025
I'm totally back in on baseball if this becomes a full time thing. They should also take 10 seconds before they resume play for everyone to point and laugh at the Umpire too. https://t.co/e4ZuMtNSRm
— Pat Whittaker (@PatWhittakerNFL) February 24, 2025
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