ABS challenge or lack there of for M’s

[Donn Beach]

It's interesting, I was going to post this article from Passan about how it's working. Seems like a real success but you have to use it. What's interesting to me is a lot of the challenges are on calls of a fraction of an inch, we aren't talking balls way outside. A number of them have fallen within the range of error of the abs system. The margin of error is 1/16 inch

What makes this version of ABS so convincing is it passes the eye test. That was always the burden of proof for any robot umpiring system, whether it's fully integrated or challenge-based. It needs to avoid calls that look wrong. And so far, even with a dozen challenges to pitches falling within that stated margin of error -- and 42 total decided by less than a half-inch -- ABS is holding up its end of the bargain.

https://www.espn.ph/mlb/story/_/id/4834 ... ng-weekend

Seriously, to stand there and be prepared to hit a fastball as well as be prepared to challenge it takes practice

[Lamda]

I thought I remembered on one of the broadcasts that they said Only Cal could challenge - basically saving it for the pitching side of things - I think that is why the hitters aren't touching it....

[D-train]

Well I like the belief a couple of team are using, if you shake your head at the called strike you should tap your helmet for challenge. I have seen several time where the M’s batter was surprised at call and did nothing

Yeah I guess we have most of the dumb ball players. At least our stars can hit. Oh wait....

It's not being dumb, you have to practice it. It's muscle memory as much as anything. It has to be spontaneous, tapping the helmet. The Yankees aren't smarter, they spent ST practicing. In that sense Boone is smarter. It's discouraging to have let the opportunity slip by. It really does strike me as something to be practicing in ST, like bunting. More difficult once the season begins

Thank God they don't have to tap their head and rub their bellies at the same time. We would have zero challenges all season.

[Millikin]

Here's the breakdown of Mariners abs challenges so far:

Catchers:
Cal Raleigh: 4 of 8 challenges successful

Pitchers:
George Kirby: 1 of 1 successful

Batters:
Donovan 1 for 1
Arozarandy 1 for 1
Naylor 1 for 1
Rivas 0 for 2

As a team the Mariners are tied for the third most ABS challenges up to yesterday.
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderbo ... ageSize=50

[D-train]

I just took an Abs challenge. It didn't go well.

Screenshot 2026-04-02 175520.png (146.51 KiB) Viewed 145 times

[Millikin]

I'm not going to look it up now, but willing to bet the Mariners are one of the best teams at using the ABS challenges. Cal behind the plate has been money.

[baller]

I'm not going to look it up now, but willing to bet the Mariners are one of the best teams at using the ABS challenges. Cal behind the plate has been money.

Cal has had a few at what seems like key moments as well. The one last night on Diaz instead of walking in a run turned into a K.

I seem to recall, could be making it up, someone from the Mariners mentioning trying to save the challenges to use them at times that were more impactful.

In some ways, it makes sense to utilize the challenges for those impactful times such as strike 3 or ball 4, but in other ways, how do you know flipping a count on the first pitch may not change the approach the rest of the at bat?

Probably a good thing it’s not me challenging, I’d assume it’s a ball of if I don’t swing.

[Sibelius Hindemith]

The main benefit is that crooked umpires can't get away with determining the outcomes of games, at least not nearly to the extent that they used to be able to. I wonder, though, just how accurately the system determines a strike zone if it is going off an image of a player's batting stance taken at one point in time.

[baller]

The main benefit is that crooked umpires can't get away with determining the outcomes of games, at least not nearly to the extent that they used to be able to. I wonder, though, just how accurately the system determines a strike zone if it is going off an image of a player's batting stance taken at one point in time.

Players height was measured during spring training.

https://www.mlb.com/amp/news/brewers-ge ... ystem.html

[Sibelius Hindemith]

Since when does your height determine the strike zone? I don't think Rickey Henderson would agree with that...