The scoreboard at LECOM Park displays a message about a pitch call being challenged. Major League Baseball is testing an Automated Ball-Stike (ABS) challenge system at select spring training parks. The system allows players to challenge a limited number of ball/stike calls during a game. Calls can be overturned if the pitch tracking technology shows an umpire got a call wrong.
I decided to throw you a curveball today.
When you opened up the Old Man Column today and saw that the lead item was about Major League Baseball implementing the ABS challenge system (again), your immediate thought must have been, "Oh, he's going to hate this idea because he likes things the way they used to be."
I get it. I'm a curmudgeon. It makes sense.
Except, I like the ABS challenge idea. A lot. Conceptually, anyway.
Let me explain.
First off, if this were a full on robot ump situation where the HawkEye would call every pitch and the home plate umpire was just the messenger, then, yeah, I'd be on here pining for the good old days.
But I don't mind a challenge system where the most egregious calls can be overturned. It still keeps the human element in play for umpires on the borderline calls, but forces them to be more focused on not making the terrible ones.
Few hitters in baseball will benefit more from the ABS challenge system than Aaron Judge…
Since 2017:
Most called strikes below zone⁰Aaron Judge — 368⁰Josh Bell — 231
Most strikeouts looking below zone⁰Aaron Judge — 42⁰Nick Castellanos — 30
pic.twitter.com/gGEAEG2s9P
Originally, the thought was that when this was implemented into the majors - which it will be starting next season - that each team would get three strikes, if you will. Meaning you can only get a challenge wrong three times.
The rule announced earlier this week is that it's two wrong challenges, but that a bonus challenge will be granted to a team out of challenges in each extra inning.
Still seems fair to me. I'm on board.
Except...
(Ah, you knew there would be a catch.)
I hate the fact that this is a player's challenge. In other words, the only people who can challenge an umpire's call are a pitcher, a catcher or the batter.
That means, not the manager.
Now, I'm not in favor of this turning into the fiasco that instant replay has become. I don't want the manager putting his hand up to ask the umpire to wait while the video replay guy checks the monitor to see if it was a ball or strike. That would be ridiculous.
But I think the manager needs to be the person who makes strategic decisions in games, not the players. The players are in the thick of the emotion. They are going to challenge calls because they are confident they are right.
But how many times do you see them discussing a pitch with a home plate umpire only to find out they were making a bad argument after video review? It happens a lot.
Players responding in the moment requesting challenges is not strategic. It's reactionary.
Instead, let a manager decide when it's most judicious to challenge - just like when a head coach throws a challenge flag in the NFL. Sometimes, it's about time and place in the game. Would a challenge of a pitch in the first inning be wise when there's so much more game to play?
It's like deciding when to call a timeout. You only get three of them. Use them wisely.
The same thing applies here.
A manager is in charge of the strategic approach to a game and all in-game decisions for a team. Taking that out of his hands and giving it to the players is silly.
My suggestion is simple. If a player wants to challenge a call, he can still tap his helmet. At which point the umpire turns to the dugout and asks the manager if he wants to challenge in that moment.
The response needs to be within five seconds. No hemming and hawing, waiting for the bench coach to talk the video guy on the dugout phone.
You want to challenge, yes or no.
Simple. Isn't costing a lot of time. And, it puts the strategy in the decision where it should be, and not on the players.
One of my favorite things is watching everyone get in an uproar of something some other talking head says.
The latest was former New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees calling the Eagles offense boring, and fans losing their freaking minds.
“Can’t stand to watch that offense. It’s the most boring offense”
- NFL Legendary QB Drew Brees on the Eagles
“I respect Philly. They are winning games… I can’t stand to watch that offense. It’s the most boring offense”
pic.twitter.com/iZfT9R7dIx
First of all, it's one guy's opinion. Why is it that fans in this city get so triggered? Geez. You just won a championship. You have the best team in the sport. You don't need to have an inferiority complex any longer. Get over it.
But secondarily, there's this - the Eagles have not lost.
Is their offense boring? I think it is, too. Is it successful? Yes. Very much so.
Isn't that all that matters?
The team is 3-0. The offense has done the job, when needed. Who cares if they are putting up video game numbers or not?
Wouldn't you rather have a team that is undefeated and throws for just 147 yards a game and has a lead running back averaging just 3.3 yards a carry or a team that has a quarterback leading the league in completions averaging 267 yards per game with a lead running back averaging 5.3 yards per carry but is 1-2?
The first team is obviously the Eagles. The second team is the Dallas Cowboys.
Of course you'd rather be the Eagles. Hell, they could have lost the two Super Bowls they won and you'd still rather be the Eagles.
What makes the Eagles so good is that they know how to win. They are really good at grinding out victories. There used to be a time when being lunch pail successful as the Eagles are was beloved in this city. Now, it's not good enough unless it's done with style, panache and gaudy statistics.
Unnecessary.
Appreciate the winning culture and stop worrying about numbers and individual opinions.
The wins the be all end all.
And when they stop, they we can complain that the offense is too vanilla. Until then, it's the right flavor for what the team is trying to accomplish.
I can't believe I'm taking the bait again, but when people in my industry try to force a bad narrative on the public, it sticks in my craw.
Here was one from last night:
Interesting decision by Thomson
Eagles faced a similar situation and prioritized winning instead of giving Saquon a chance to break the rushing record
Phillies prioritizing the record https://t.co/A3eXs183UA
Now, let me say up front that I know Eliot likes to throw stuff out there because he wants engagement, and me addressing it is getting caught right in his web, but the problem is, not every fan who follows him or listens to him and others like him are able to recognize that, and let stuff like this shape their opinion on sports.
It's the dumbing down of sports fans. It happens too often.
It was only about 90 minutes after the game on the drive home that I heard a caller into WIP agree with Eliot that chasing the home run record shouldn't matter and that the Phillies should rest Kyle Schwarber like the Eagles rested Saquon Barkley, preventing him from breaking Eric Dickerson's rushing record.
In other words, putting nonsense out there like this helps shape narratives. If the Phillies lose in the playoffs, someone will likely hearken back to the Phillies pursuit of individual accolades distracting from their ability to achieve team excellence.
And all because people with a platform put that thought in the heads of fans, whether they are being honest about it or not.
Nuance no longer exists in a world of contrasting viewpoints - so, of course, there's people who think the Phillies are handling this wrong.
Hopefully, dear reader, you are smart enough to not be one of those fans. If so, I applaud you for having common sense. Yes, it's that low a bar these days.
However if you are one of those yahoos who think the Phillies are putting Schwarber at risk by playing him in the final four regular season games and that the Phillies should follow the Eagles lead, just know I'm rolling my eyes and shaking my head simultaneously.
There is no comparison here. None. Take this take and flush it. And while you're at it...
... get off my lawn.
