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It will take a while to get through this, but if you want to know all of the rules this is it. Its complicated for sure.
https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026
Like?… no like?
The good news is that many are familiar with it from Triple-A. Most I talk to seem to be ok with it.
Clear evidence why ABS is needed. A pitch six inches out of the zone is called strike three. Going on 5,000 missed calls in one month!
On the telecast last night, Yadi said he hates the system because he liked stealing strikes.
Umpires missed 4,678 calls in April and 875 were overturned by ABS challenge.
These were the 10 worst called strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/UlGaJ9pjIK
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) May 2, 2026
I have found i like the abs system. Very surprising. I also like how they limit it a bit to keep it from constantly being abused. Losing a challenge when u get it wrong was def the right choice. Though i could eventually see the machine making all the calls.
I wonder if the ABS feedback will help umpires get better as the season wears on. Was that looked into last year in the minors?
My recollection is that umpires have been graded on their performance on an individual basis for some time now. Of course, it isn’t like being publicly embarrassed on the video board in real time.
I’m generally an old curmudgeon when it comes to fooling around with baseball’s rules and traditions but I must say I quite like this abs business. It makes me wonder why not have the machines call all of the balls and strikes, obviating the need for interrupting the game with challenges and creating a much-needed consistent strike zone.
It works really well as far as I can tell. I’d like to see it just flat out used for all ball & strike calls or triple the number of challenges to 6 for each team. A challenge literally takes 10-15 seconds to resolve and with only 2, once one is lost teams tend to conserve the last one for the 8th or 9th inning and the blown calls pile up.
Is it just me, or has the umpires performance improved this year? I’m not sure the numbers support my statement. It’s just the eye test I’m going by.
I hadn’t really been paying that close of attention, 27, but just a day or two ago I saw a pitch during a Cardinals game that was almost neck high that the HPU called a strike. It was so up and out of the strike zone that I’m reasonably sure he was embarrassed once he saw he saw the replay.
You are 100% correct, Cardinals27. It didn’t really hit me until about a month into the season, but the improved accuracy of calling the balls and strikes is nothing short of astounding……even with that home plate ump we had the other night whom accrued a huge batch of challenges skewing those accuracy percentages a bit. Gone are the days of having umps whom have their own interpretation of the strike zone. No more low pitch or high pitch favoring arbiters. And now that their judgements can immediately be brought into question, these umps have to be “on the ball” with each and every pitch.
Report from Bob Nightengale.
These umpires have accepted buyouts and will retire at the end of the season:
CB Bucknor (ranked 91st of 91 this season)
Laz Diaz (83rd)
Brian O'Nora (85th)
Lance Barksdale (70th)
Marvin Hudson (52nd)
Tony Randazzo (No games called this season)
Andy Fletcher (74th)…— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) July 5, 2026
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