Chris Sale isn’t buying into the tech revolution-at least not when it comes to MLB’s new automated balls and strikes (ABS) challenge system. While some pitchers may be eager to flex their right to challenge a questionable call, Sale is making it clear: he’s not interested.
“I will never challenge a pitch,” the veteran left-hander said flatly. “I will never do it. I won’t do it.”
That’s not stubbornness talking-it’s self-awareness. Now entering his third season with the Atlanta Braves, Sale isn’t resisting change for the sake of tradition. Instead, he’s leaning into what he knows best: the rhythm of the game, the human element, and the trust he’s built with his catchers and umpires over a 14-year career.
“Because I’m not an umpire,” Sale continued. “That’s their job.
I’m a starting pitcher. I’ve never called balls and strikes in my life.
Plus, I’m greedy. I know that.
I think they’re all strikes.”
That’s vintage Sale-competitive, candid, and completely in tune with his own tendencies. He knows the fire that fuels him on the mound could cloud his judgment in the moment.
A borderline pitch might feel like a strike because he wants it to be a strike. And when you’ve got catchers like Sean Murphy or Drake Baldwin framing pitches with surgical precision, it’s easy to believe you’re getting squeezed when you’re not.
“I like pitches that are on the corner that might be a little off,” Sale said. “In the heat of the moment, especially if you throw a good pitch, you got Murph or Baldwin out there and they kind of catch it the right way-they make a lot of balls look like strikes. And I don’t want to take away one of those challenges that might be needed later in the game.”
That’s the other layer here: strategy. Each team gets a limited number of challenges under the ABS system, and Sale’s not about to burn one just because he felt slighted in the third inning.
He’s thinking about the bullpen, the late innings, the tight spots where one pitch could change everything. That’s a veteran move-thinking beyond the moment, thinking like a guy who’s been through the grind.
And let’s not forget, this is the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner we’re talking about. He’s not some fringe guy trying to earn an edge.
Sale has thrived in a system where human error is part of the game. He’s not asking for perfection-he’s asking for consistency, and he’s willing to live with the occasional missed call if it means keeping the game’s flow intact.
“My entire career has been balls called strikes and strikes called balls, and you just kind of deal with it,” he said. “Now, if my catcher has something to say about it, I’ll leave that to him. But I’ve dealt with both sides, and I’m fine to kind of keep dealing with it.”
In an era where technology is reshaping the sport, Sale’s stance is a reminder that not every innovation needs to be embraced by everyone. For some players, the game’s imperfections are part of its beauty. And for Chris Sale, trusting the people behind the plate-and the ones behind the glove-is still the best call he can make.