MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said reactions to the ABS system have been “overwhelmingly positive” as his expectation was that the players “would really like it,” but he is “actually surprised … how popular it’s been with fans.” Appearing on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Manfred added when the challenge happens everybody is “kind of glued to the jumbotron,” and it is “amazing.” Host Dan Patrick mentioned the criticism the umpire’s are getting and them being “embarrassed” or “judged by everybody.” Manfred said the umpires have “reacted with professionalism.” Manfred: “We had a lot of conversation with them about the implementation of this. … They’re right nearly 94% of the time, which is an astounding number when you think about how difficult it is. And most of the challenges are pitches that are in or out by less than, or about, a half an inch. So you can’t be too critical of people.” He added the umpires “want the game to be as good as possible,” and thinks “they see it as an improvement in the game.” On the time it takes, Manfred said the “data shows we’re like a minute and a half longer associated with ABS.” He added, “That’s a price I’m prepared to pay” (“The Dan Patrick Show,” 4/8).
PERFECT CALL: THE ATHLETIC’s Ken Rosenthal wrote some umpires are “quietly stewing.” They say that fans are “judging them by a near-impossible standard, and fear the game under ABS ultimately will suffer.” Those umpires expect pitchers and catchers eventually “will grow angry that more balls are getting called in the smaller ABS zone, both by plate umps and the robots.” Most fans also “think ABS is cool.” The system “not only holds plate umpires more accountable, but also introduces new layers of strategy, making games more entertaining.” And the league, after “putting the umpires in a difficult spot,” said that they “are performing exceedingly well.” As the umpires grow more comfortable over time with the system, their accuracy “should be even greater, particularly with the league taking steps to help them adjust” (THE AHTLETIC, 4/8).
