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45s wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 15:45 pm What could possibly go wrong…

45s wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 15:45 pm What could possibly go wrong…

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 11:14 am I read about it on ESPN.com early this morning

Dizzying at times, here are some highlights:

• Umpires will be given discretion on plays that happen on the bases, even when a pitch is being challenged. For example, the outcome of a stolen base attempt is likely to stand no matter the outcome of the challenge, with the lone exception coming on a ball-four or strike-three call that is overturned. If the umpire deems "player behavior" has been impacted -- for example, if the catcher stops playing because he hears ball four and the call is overturned -- he might send the runner back to his original base and the stolen base won't count.

• A pitch may not be challenged if a position player is pitching.

• The league is measuring the standing height of each player to determine their individual strike zone, which will be slightly smaller than the umpire called zone.

• It's possible for both an ABS challenge and video replay challenge to occur on the same play. If that happens, the ball-strike call will be adjudicated first, followed by the video replay on the bases

Here's another rule change that was adopted by owners:

Also Thursday, the league announced a tweak to its obstruction rule: A runner who initiates contact with a fielder with the intent to draw an obstruction call will be called out. This sometimes occurs in rundowns when a baserunner purposely runs into a fielder hoping to be declared safe due to obstruction. Umpires have now been told to ignore such attempts and instead call the runner out.

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑14 Feb 2026 06:46 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

The computer should call balls and strikes on all pitches. The technology exists to do that. The only reason not to is so the umpires can determine the outcome of games.

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 19:07 pm

rockondlouie wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 11:14 am I read about it on ESPN.com early this morning

Dizzying at times, here are some highlights:

• Umpires will be given discretion on plays that happen on the bases, even when a pitch is being challenged. For example, the outcome of a stolen base attempt is likely to stand no matter the outcome of the challenge, with the lone exception coming on a ball-four or strike-three call that is overturned. If the umpire deems "player behavior" has been impacted -- for example, if the catcher stops playing because he hears ball four and the call is overturned -- he might send the runner back to his original base and the stolen base won't count.

• A pitch may not be challenged if a position player is pitching.

• The league is measuring the standing height of each player to determine their individual strike zone, which will be slightly smaller than the umpire called zone.

• It's possible for both an ABS challenge and video replay challenge to occur on the same play. If that happens, the ball-strike call will be adjudicated first, followed by the video replay on the bases

Here's another rule change that was adopted by owners:

Also Thursday, the league announced a tweak to its obstruction rule: A runner who initiates contact with a fielder with the intent to draw an obstruction call will be called out. This sometimes occurs in rundowns when a baserunner purposely runs into a fielder hoping to be declared safe due to obstruction. Umpires have now been told to ignore such attempts and instead call the runner out.

Regarding the measuring you mentioned (copy/pasted below from your post ).. all players are measured NOT wearing spikes .. so that will make them each a tad shorter.

The league is measuring the standing height of each player to determine their individual strike zone, which will be slightly smaller than the umpire called zone.

ramfandan wrote: ↑14 Feb 2026 07:20 am

ScotchMIrish wrote: ↑14 Feb 2026 06:46 am

ramfandan wrote: ↑13 Feb 2026 08:39 am https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

After reading this article, I highly recommend all Cardinal fans read this article. It covers specific instances ... for example, on a 2-2 pitch the catcher drops a ball that the umpire called ball 3 but the pitch was challenged and overturned to a strike. Because the ball was dropped , does the catcher need to throw down to first base to complete the out ?
What happens if runners on 1st and 2nd nobody out and double steal on a 3-2 pitch called ball 4 is reversed to strike 3. Since the catcher initially did not throw to any base (since the ball 4 call loaded them up ) , once it's reversed to strike 3 must the runners return to their previous base ?
What happens if a pitch is challenged but on the play there is a challenge play at a base (example a stolen 2nd base call ). Can there be both a challenge at home plat on the pitch AND the call at 2nd base ?

Can an umpire deny a challenged pitch ?
What is the procedure for extra innings if you have a remaining challenge or have burned both challenges ?

Enjoy the article !

The computer should call balls and strikes on all pitches. The technology exists to do that. The only reason not to is so the umpires can determine the outcome of games.

At least for now , the players (pitchers) are opposed to having a fully ABS called system . Over 60% oppose it .

MLB players are sharply divided on full Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) systems, with a 2025 poll showing 63.4% opposed, preferring to keep human, in-the-moment judgment. While many prefer the precision of technology to reduce missed calls, others argue it ruins the "art" of pitching, removes catcher framing value, and creates a smaller, unrealistic strike zone.

One concern also that wasy expressed in the minors is that if ABS calls every pitch , there would be more 'balls' called (as close pitches now called strikes by a human ump would result in a ball ) so effect would be many more 'walks' and less balls put in play by the batters.

For fans, one of the complaints currently with the high velo pitches , etc. is that they don't see many hits in a game and fewer balls put into the field of play. Guess if fans want to pay to see a lot of walks , a full ABS would be good . the old 'be careful what you wish for ' may apply .