Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is tired of seeing missed ball and strike calls at home plate, and he wants MLB to make a significant change involving umpires.
In an interview posted by MLBFits on X, Butler was asked what he would change if he were MLB Commissioner Rob Mandred for a day. Butler used the opportunity to take aim at the umpires.
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“ABS, I’m fed up with the umpires,” Butler said. “I’ve had enough with the umpires. They miss too many calls both ways. They call strikes balls and balls strikes.”
ABS is the automated ball and strike system that has slowly been incorporated into baseball since 2019. It was used in this year’s All-Star Game and spring training and has been fully incorporated at the Triple-A level. It could be used in the regular season in 2026. ABS allows a team via a batter, pitcher or catcher to challenge a call three times in a game.
Butler, who is batting .232 with 17 home runs and 48 RBIs this season, said he likes the Triple-A rules but would make one tweak to the system that would bring more accountability to umpires.
“I want the challenge system with three, just like they do at Triple-A,” Butler said. “When you look at Triple-A, the umpires are a little bit more cautious of what pitches they call because they know a pitcher or a hitter might challenge it and it might embarrass them, so they might be a little more cautious to pull that trigger. I feel like up here, they don’t give a (bleep).”
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Chris Franklin may be reached at cfranklin@njadvancemedia.com.