When Major League Baseball introduced the pitch clock in 2023, fans worried about games ending on a pitch clock violation. Fast forward to June 22, 2024, and that unlikely scenario became reality. The Colorado Rockies edged out the Washington Nationals when a pitch-clock violation led to a walk-off walk, with Ryan McMahon at the plate and Nationals' closer Kyle Finnegan taking too long to deliver.
Now, MLB is stirring the pot again with the Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System. This new rule lets batters, pitchers, and catchers challenge ball or strike calls.
The fear? A team might lose on a challenged call or run out of challenges in a crucial moment, only to be stuck with a bad call.
A similar situation played out during the World Baseball Classic semifinal between Team USA and the Dominican Republic. Team USA, holding onto a 2-1 lead, turned to Mason Miller to seal the deal.
After some tense moments, including a walk to Julio Rodríguez and a wild pitch, the game came down to Geraldo Perdomo with two outs and the tying run on third. Perdomo battled to a full count and then watched a low slider get called strike three by umpire Cory Blazer.
Team USA celebrated, but the call stirred debate.
The ABS system wasn't in use for this WBC, just like the pitch clock wasn't part of the 2023 WBC before its MLB debut. Fans and former players alike called for the ABS to be included in future tournaments, arguing the outcome might have been different with the system in place.
CC Sabathia, the former Milwaukee Brewers ace, made his stance clear with a simple social media post: "ABS." His support for the system resonated across the baseball community.
Yet, not everyone is on board. San Diego Padres pitcher Walker Buehler, for instance, has been vocal about his dislike for the ABS system.
As with the pitch clock, ABS is likely to face its share of growing pains. But just as the pitch clock has gained acceptance, the ABS might follow suit. One thing is clear: CC Sabathia is firmly in the ABS camp.