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MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred aims for the automated balls and strikes (ABS) system to be implemented next season.
Manfred announced on Wednesday that he and his office will introduce a proposal for MLB’s Competition Committee to have the system in place in 2026, a goal he had in mind last summer.
“I think we will pursue the opportunity to change this process and we will see what comes out at the end of it,” Manfred said at the MLB headquarters on Wednesday via Athletic.
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MLB -Commissioner Rob Manfred (Mike Carlson/MLB photos via Getty Images)
“I think teams are really positive to ABS. You know I have the unscientific system that I use -my E -Mail traffic -and my clear impression is that using ABS in spring training has made people more likely to complain about balls and strike calls via e -mail, to me referring to the need for ABS. It is undoubtedly true.”
The system was a full-go in spring training this year after several seasons in smaller leagues. Teams got two challenges per Battle, but was able to preserve every challenge that was won. Only the dough, pitcher or catcher could challenge a call, and it had to be immediately after the call without the help of the bench or other players.
But there are still some kinks that need fine tuning.
“My biggest concern is to work through the process and implement it in a way acceptable to the players,” Manfred said. “There will always be things around the edges that we have to work through and what, and I want them to feel that we respected the committee process and that there was a full broadcast of concern over the system and an attempt to tackle these concerns before we move on.”
It is another major change in the sport ordered by Manfred that implemented a pitch, larger bases and shift limits in 2023. However, fans seem to like the changes as participation has risen in each of the last two years. It was the first time since 2011 and 2012 that participation grew in back-to-back seasons.
New York Yankees Center Fielder Aaron Judge (99) and Manager Aaron Boone claim a call. (Wendell Cruz-usa Today Sports)
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The average ABS challenge in minors has taken 17 seconds, so this should not affect the pace of the game, which has significantly increased in the middle of the commissioner’s rule changes.
“We negotiated the right to make this kind of rule changes,” Manfred said. “It was a really important part of the agreement from our perspective. Everyone understood what the rules of the way are
However, this would undoubtedly be the biggest change to them all, and it would come on a pretty crazy timing: A lockout threatens at MLB’s collective negotiation agreement ends in December next year.
Philadelphia Phillies Manager Rob Thomson was pushed out of the game. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
But Manfred said, “In the past, I’ve been a little unclear about the year before negotiations. I don’t feel like that right now.”
