MLB will use Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season
September 23, 2025
MLB will use Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System (ABS) during the entire 2026 season
18 comments
Looking for hot takes: Which Astro gets unrestricted usage of challenges? Which one absolutely gets barred from challenging?
Good. Every team has been suffering a lot of bad calls lately. I expect teathing problems, but most (or probably all) of the new class coming up are already used to ABS, I can only see this being a good thing.
I say why stop at the umps? I’d watch a full robot league in the off-season.
This will go a long way at taking away umpires partiality. You know there are umps that hate certain teams and players. Anything to point baseball towards the scientific result and not the human element, perception, and feelings around the result.
Good. It feels like our lack of plate discipline directly correlates with us being one of the most unfavored teams in the league
One step closer to robot umpires and I’m here for it. 😎
Having seen it in action just this weekend, I’m okay with this.
Thank god!!
I feel like a lot of the bad calls were on purpose this season so it was easier for us to accept the new automated system. Like everything else they do to us, convince us we want it. I’ve been wanting an automated system, it removes human error and is more accurate IMO.
We will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this. Very happy to hear this.
If you read the article on [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) (presented by T-mobile) it mentions that it uses T-mobile about 50 times in the first 20 lines. T-Mobile was sure to make sure that we know that T-mobile was the sponsor of the T-Mobile ABS (Presented by T-Mobile).
T-Mobile.
About time
Works great in the minors. Becomes a moment of excitement while they show the replay with the strike zone. Doesn’t take much time.
Really wish every pitch was challengable but if the batter is wrong on a challenge it’s an extra strike & if the pitcher is wrong it’s an extra ball. If it’s a ball 4/strike the challenge then the next batter starts 0-1/1-0 if the challenger loses
Walker Buehler in shambles!
This is stupid. Just institute ABS for all pitches, no challenge. System says if its a ball or strike.
Great news! 🏆🏆🏆
Good. Tired of these blind ass umpires fuckin up the game.
Considering Christian Walker’s signature move this season has been arguing high fastballs that definitely hit the zone where he’s called out on strikes looking, I’d say Walker gets zero challenges. Yordan Alvarez gets a green light to challenge any pitch, however.
18 comments
Looking for hot takes: Which Astro gets unrestricted usage of challenges? Which one absolutely gets barred from challenging?
Good. Every team has been suffering a lot of bad calls lately. I expect teathing problems, but most (or probably all) of the new class coming up are already used to ABS, I can only see this being a good thing.
I say why stop at the umps? I’d watch a full robot league in the off-season.
This will go a long way at taking away umpires partiality. You know there are umps that hate certain teams and players. Anything to point baseball towards the scientific result and not the human element, perception, and feelings around the result.
Good. It feels like our lack of plate discipline directly correlates with us being one of the most unfavored teams in the league
One step closer to robot umpires and I’m here for it. 😎
Having seen it in action just this weekend, I’m okay with this.
Thank god!!
I feel like a lot of the bad calls were on purpose this season so it was easier for us to accept the new automated system. Like everything else they do to us, convince us we want it. I’ve been wanting an automated system, it removes human error and is more accurate IMO.
We will be one of the biggest beneficiaries of this. Very happy to hear this.
If you read the article on [MLB.com](http://MLB.com) (presented by T-mobile) it mentions that it uses T-mobile about 50 times in the first 20 lines. T-Mobile was sure to make sure that we know that T-mobile was the sponsor of the T-Mobile ABS (Presented by T-Mobile).
T-Mobile.
About time
Works great in the minors. Becomes a moment of excitement while they show the replay with the strike zone. Doesn’t take much time.
Really wish every pitch was challengable but if the batter is wrong on a challenge it’s an extra strike & if the pitcher is wrong it’s an extra ball. If it’s a ball 4/strike the challenge then the next batter starts 0-1/1-0 if the challenger loses
Walker Buehler in shambles!
This is stupid. Just institute ABS for all pitches, no challenge. System says if its a ball or strike.
Great news! 🏆🏆🏆
Good. Tired of these blind ass umpires fuckin up the game.
Considering Christian Walker’s signature move this season has been arguing high fastballs that definitely hit the zone where he’s called out on strikes looking, I’d say Walker gets zero challenges. Yordan Alvarez gets a green light to challenge any pitch, however.