Former umps watch their brethren deal with ABS and feel sympathy, pain

The New York Times • April 1, 2026 • sports

Key Points:

Former MLB umpires express concerns about the new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system, noting that the strike zone has changed and is difficult to call accurately under the new technology.
The ABS system measures balls and strikes using a two-dimensional plane and player height percentages, which is a significant shift from the previous three-dimensional, visual judgment method umpires used.
MLB defends the system, citing increased umpire accuracy to 93.5%, a 0.9% improvement from the previous year, and emphasizes extensive testing prior to implementation.
Umpires acknowledge the challenge system can cause public humiliation due to overturned calls but agree the goal is to improve accuracy and reduce game-changing errors.
Despite mixed feelings, the consensus is that the technology is now an irreversible part of the game, and umpires will need time to adapt to the new standards.

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