This is disappointing

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

[Cardinals4Life]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

The ABS challenge will be new to the MLB.

[Basil Shabazz]

It is a start IMO. I'm sure there was a concession to the umpires' union so as not to eliminate more responsibility from existing umpires.

[Red Bird Classic]

The challenge system is pure nonsense.

Baseball needs to just use the electronic system to call balls and strikes. Then let the umpire overrule the machines if they make an obvious mistake.

It's beyond stupid to have a better system and refuse to use it except in this convoluted challenge thing.

Baseball just insists on being stupid.

[blackinkbiz]

The challenge system is pure nonsense.

Baseball needs to just use the electronic system to call balls and strikes. Then let the umpire overrule the machines if they make an obvious mistake.

It's beyond stupid to have a better system and refuse to use it except in this convoluted challenge thing.

Baseball just insists on being stupid.

Common sense is lacking far too often in this world. Everyone has a personal agenda that prevents logic, in this case, the umpires and baseball purists. That being said, even as an IT guy, I do fear a world ruled by automation because eventually, when enough people suffer, a physical revolution will occur. Perhaps this is a microcosm of the rapidly approaching future. lol

[ScotchMIrish]

The challenge system is pure nonsense.

Baseball needs to just use the electronic system to call balls and strikes. Then let the umpire overrule the machines if they make an obvious mistake.

It's beyond stupid to have a better system and refuse to use it except in this convoluted challenge thing.

Baseball just insists on being stupid.

Common sense is lacking far too often in this world. Everyone has a personal agenda that prevents logic, in this case, the umpires and baseball purists. That being said, even as an IT guy, I do fear a world ruled by automation because eventually, when enough people suffer, a physical revolution will occur. Perhaps this is a microcosm of the rapidly approaching future. lol

I qualify as somewhat of a purist. I don't like the DH for example. Having an actual strike zone instead of an umpire's version if what he thinks the strike zone should be is purist.

[JDW]

Kinda funny watching some parts of Little League games on TV, with how bad the umps can be with balls and strikes.
In one game the ump missed an obvious strike 3 as most the defensive players were headed to the dugout. Guess the ump didn't take a grudge to being showed up as the next pitch missed very badly but he called it strike 3. The ole extreme make up call.
They even have review at the LL level, but still got it wrong with the review imo on a safe call at home plate.

The girls LL games can be pretty impressive. Some 12 yr. old SP's already in the mid 50's or higher with their velo with good changeups and control.

Anyway I'd prefer the balls and strikes called electronically at the MLB level but at least this looks like a step in the right direction.

[3dender]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

I read it as you don't get it back if UNsuccessful... seems like you have unlimited challenges if you get them all right. I hope so at least.

I actually like ABS better than the full electronic strike zone for now. It's been awesome at the minor league games.

[Clubmaker2]

umps are bad enough I dont know if 2 is enough even if they carry over if the challenge is correct. Its like this as proposed, is enough to cover just Jordan Walker lol It could at least be 3 challenges

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

I read it as you don't get it back if UNsuccessful... seems like you have unlimited challenges if you get them all right. I hope so at least.

I actually like ABS better than the full electronic strike zone for now. It's been awesome at the minor league games.

You are correct. I misread it. Overturned call does not result in a loss of challenge. Still I don't understand why they can't just go full electronic strike zone. Keep the home plate umpire for other calls. HBP, foul tip, catcher interference, fair or foul etc. The umpire union should agree to that and if not the panel is stacked so that the league can enact whatever they want over the objection of the umpires. Long overdue. This is a bandaid.

I'm not sure what the ABS is relative to full electronic strike zone. Please explain.

[3dender]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

I read it as you don't get it back if UNsuccessful... seems like you have unlimited challenges if you get them all right. I hope so at least.

I actually like ABS better than the full electronic strike zone for now. It's been awesome at the minor league games.

You are correct. I misread it. Overturned call does not result in a loss of challenge. Still I don't understand why they can't just go full electronic strike zone. Keep the home plate umpire for other calls. HBP, foul tip, catcher interference, fair or foul etc. The umpire union should agree to that and if not the panel is stacked so that the league can enact whatever they want over the objection of the umpires. Long overdue. This is a bandaid.

I'm not sure what the ABS is relative to full electronic strike zone. Please explain.

I misspoke I think... ABS *is* full electronic strike zone, it stands for "automated balls and strikes"... just the way it has been used over the last few years is to refer to the "challenge" system of balls and strikes, which is what has been implemented in the minors.

So really it should be "ABS challenge" system v. "full electronic" system

[ScotchMIrish]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/06/ ... -2026.html

I thought they were going to the electronic strike zone. 2 challenges per game and you don't get the challenge back if successful. That's no change. Status quo.

I read it as you don't get it back if UNsuccessful... seems like you have unlimited challenges if you get them all right. I hope so at least.

I actually like ABS better than the full electronic strike zone for now. It's been awesome at the minor league games.

You are correct. I misread it. Overturned call does not result in a loss of challenge. Still I don't understand why they can't just go full electronic strike zone. Keep the home plate umpire for other calls. HBP, foul tip, catcher interference, fair or foul etc. The umpire union should agree to that and if not the panel is stacked so that the league can enact whatever they want over the objection of the umpires. Long overdue. This is a bandaid.

I'm not sure what the ABS is relative to full electronic strike zone. Please explain.

I misspoke I think... ABS *is* full electronic strike zone, it stands for "automated balls and strikes"... just the way it has been used over the last few years is to refer to the "challenge" system of balls and strikes, which is what has been implemented in the minors.

So really it should be "ABS challenge" system v. "full electronic" system

Thanks for the informative clarification. They should get more than 2 challenges per game. It shouldn't take more than a few seconds for the computer to determine the outcome.