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MLB tests challenge system to fix umpiring woes amid Bucknor infamy

Source: theverge.com

TL;DR

MLB launches ABS Challenge System in minors to let teams challenge umpire calls using automated ball-strike tech.
Umpires retain primary role, reviewing just one challenge per game via replay center.
System targets notoriously inconsistent umpiring, spotlighted by CB Bucknor, baseball's worst-rated arbiter.
Success could push full ABS adoption, reshaping how strikes are called in pro ball.

The story at a glance

MLB is testing a hybrid automated ball-strike system in the minors where teams can challenge umpire calls. It's rolling out now amid endless debates over umpiring accuracy, especially with infamous arbiters like CB Bucknor under fire.

Key moments & milestones

2024: ABS Challenge System debuts in Florida Complex League and Arizona Complex League, umps call balls/strikes, teams get one challenge per game.
Challenges reviewed by replay center using ABS track.
Ump's original call stands unless clear error; no batter challenges.
Builds on prior ABS trials in minors since 2022.

Signature highlights

System keeps humans central: umpires call 80-90% of pitches as before, tech only checks challenges.
CB Bucknor called out as MLB's worst, with 33.6% accuracy in 2023 - 13 points below average.
Hybrid model splits difference between full ABS and status quo, addressing players' gripes without killing ump jobs.
Early tests showed ABS calling 12-15% more strikes, widening zone vertically.

Key quotes

"This is a great first step toward improving the product on the field." - Dan Musico, MLB senior VP of umpiring.

"We don't want to take the human element out of the game." - Pat Courtney, MLB spokesman.

Why it matters

This hybrid fixes umpiring's biggest blind spot - the strike zone - without fully automating the game, potentially boosting accuracy and fan trust. It spotlights how tech can evolve traditions amid data showing top umps still miss 10-20% of calls. Watch for expansion to higher minors or majors by 2025, signaling baseball's robot ump revolution.