4 months ago
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(NewsNation) — The MLB's robot umpires won't beryllium rolled retired for each crippled this spring, but they volition beryllium successful play for Friday's matchup betwixt the Tampa Bay Rays and the New York Yankees astatine Steinbrenner Field successful Tampa, Florida.
It’s called the "automated ball-strike situation system," oregon ABS. Think of it similar shot — referees marque a call, and coaches tin situation it for review.
There's inactive a location sheet umpire, but present players tin situation ball-and-strike calls utilizing a computerized system.
The batter, pitcher oregon catcher simply pat their helmet oregon headdress to situation — but they lone person 2 seconds. If they challenge, the transportation graphic appears connected the scoreboard and broadcast, and the umpire updates the count. The MLB says this takes astir 17 seconds.
The MLB has been investigating ABS challenges successful the minors for the past 3 seasons, and present it's acceptable to usage the strategy successful astir 60% of outpouring games to spot however it holds up successful the large leagues. If each goes well, fans could spot it successful regular-season games arsenic aboriginal arsenic adjacent year.
Thirteen outpouring grooming ballparks, location to 19 teams, volition beryllium utilizing the ABS system, and each squad volition person a changeable astatine challenging ball-strike calls astatine immoderate constituent this spring.
Each squad gets 2 challenges per crippled — and they support them if they’re correct. The Chicago Cubs person already utilized the strategy twice, which is precisely what the MLB wants. It's looking for plentifulness of feedback from players and managers successful bid to tweak the system.
Rays outfielder Richie Palacios told NewsNation he’s been messing astir with the ABS strategy for the past mates of years and thinks it should enactment well.
Rays starter Ryan Pepiot said he’s funny to spot however it plays retired batter to batter but is acrophobic that it mightiness dilatory the crippled down.
Minor league investigating showed a afloat play with the ABS strategy did conscionable that — walks went up, and the gait slowed — but fans and players person said they similar the situation system.
