Hopefully yes, because it’s coming to the Majors sooner rather than later.
If you’ve watched or listened to the right games this Spring Training, then you might have noticed a new quirk in the rules, which the San Francisco Giants have attempted to take advantage of with mixed results. And if you like watching AAA baseball, then you’re probably fairly familiar with it.
MLB has done a trial run on their Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system this spring, in preparation to potentially bring it to the regular season next year. The ABS system isn’t used for all pitches — it probably won’t be for a while — but instead allows pitchers, catchers, and hitters to challenge the called outcome of a pitch. Each team is awarded two challenges per game (when the game is at a stadium equipped with the technology), and they retain them with a successful challenge.
The drama of the system is fun. As in tennis, a challenge results in an immediate animated replay on the scoreboard, allowing fans at the park and watching on TV the chance to dramatically see if the call was correct. But not everyone is on board with it, with plenty of players and fans criticizing the system’s implementation.
I’m indifferent. On the one hand, it’s fun and dramatic. On the other hand, it feels a little silly to have the technology to accurately call every pitch, and then only use it three or four times in a 300-pitch game. It’s hard to argue with trying to make officiating more accurate, but also … if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, or something.