MLB’s Strike Zone Debate: Tech, Tradition, and Truth

Balancing Technology and Tradition in America’s Pastime

Baseball, often affectionately called America’s pastime, is a sport deeply rooted in rich history and timeless tradition. The game is full of rituals, nuances, and numbers that have captivated fans for generations. I became a fan in the mid-90’s, when Hall of Famers like Chipper Jones and Atlanta’s “Big 3”, Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz, were in their prime. Whether it was from my great-aunt’s living room, the stands in Milwaukee, or from my phone speakers via the modern radio app, baseball, particularly Braves baseball, has shaped my life. With time and technology, however, comes change. I saw the writing on the wall when K-Zone came into being. As the tech improved, fans could see more from their living room than ever before. From K-Zone to StatCast, teams, players and fans alike had more at their fingertips than ever before. I even catch myself looking at my TV screen after some pitches and thinking, "You missed that one, blue." With this technology, there came more scrutiny of the human element. Umpire scorecards are now accessible to fans, further increasing calls for a more uniform system. The latest innovation, the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) aimed to accomplish this by bringing more precision to the strike zone and ultimately, the game itself. Personally, I’m all for umpires getting calls right and being consistent, but the human element, the fiery arguments, and the controversy was one thing that made the game interesting to me. I admit I will have a hard time with this, but technology evolves, and the game we love must go with it.

What is the ABS System?

The Automated Ball-Strike System, commonly referred to as the “robot umpire” system, aids umpires in finding a pitch relative to the strike zone using advanced tracking systems. This system uses high-speed cameras and radar technology to analyze pitch location in the blink of an eye. The call is then relayed to the home plate umpire and a ball or strike determination is made. Sometimes, the umpire receives the call via an earpiece, making ABS appear nearly seamless to the fans at home or in the ballpark. I’ve watched a few Gwinnett games on TV via my MLB.TV app over the last few seasons, and the ABS system seems to work well at that level. It remains to be seen what it will bring to the major league level in 2026. 

While MLB has tested the ABS system at various levels of the minor leagues over the last few seasons, the league’s commitment to bringing the technology to the game on a broader scale signals a transformative movement for the sport, which disappoints a lot of purists. Though I consider myself one of those purists, I agree with the system in that it will create a more consistent strike zone for all teams no matter who puts on the umpire gear behind the plate. I must admit, I will miss certain pitchers showing their veteran savvy by hitting spots consistently and stealing calls that might be just off the plate—Greg Maddux was famous for this. Though, I think since the tech is there, it’s time for more consistent umpiring. After all, there’s a challenge system for most everything else. Why not balls and strikes too? Still, the purist in me will probably feel a pang of nostalgia for the human element once the ABS system is fully implemented next year. It was, after all, part of the reason I was compelled to watch the game for so many years. 

The Pros: Precision, Consistency, and Quick Reviews

Let’s start with the obvious advantages of the ABS system:

Consistency Across Games and Venues: One of the most common criticisms of the traditional umpiring system—and one I share even as a purist—is the varying strike zone interpretation among umpires. Some umpires are pitcher’s umpires, giving generous calls to pitchers either north and south or east and west—-it’s rarely ever both. Others are more favorable to the hitter. ABS offers a precise and uniform strike zones, ensuring both hitters and pitchers alike know what to expect based on where the ball crosses the plate rather than who is who is making the calls. This level of consistency not only levels the playing field but also opens the game up to new fans, which is what I believe Rob Manfred was going for when he made some of the rule changes we see today.

Quick and Transparent Reviews: Human umpires, despite all their training and expertise, are exactly that, human. Missed calls and and have turned the tide fo a game, becoming controversial talking points in the aftermath. The ABS system looks to alleviate this with a quick review process and either correction or confirmation of the call in question. In some formats, teams are allowed a limited number of challenges, similar to the way it is done in the NFL. This streamlines and expedites the process, reducing arguments and keeping the focus on the players on the field rather than the umpires and coaches. 

Reducing On-Field Conflicts: With fewer missed calls, managers and players argue less with umpires over calls on the field, leading to fewer ejections, less tension between teams and umpires and a cleaner, more streamlined product for the fans to enjoy. It’s safe to say Bobby Cox’s ejection record is likely safe.

Fewer Passed Balls: To “steal” the occasional strike, we have seen an increasing number of catchers catching on one knee, hoping to present the ball as a strike to the umpire more often. This was much to the chagrin of Braves Radio Network color analyst Joe Simpson. Every time I’d be listening to a game and there would be a passed ball, Joe would make a comment about whoever the catcher was catching on one knee instead of on both feet. With a more uniform strike zone, the need to frame will be a lost and unnecessary art, leaving catchers to focus on handling their pitchers and keeping the ball in front of them. 

The Cons: Disrupting Tradition and the Purist’s Perspective

As with any significant change, the ABS system brings with it its own set of drawbacks, especially if you’re a purist like I am and desperately cling to the rich tapestry that is baseball tradition.

Less of the Human Element: The relationship between pitcher, catcher, and umpire is a dance dating as far back as the game itself. Framing pitches, working the count, and even the occasional “makeup call” from an umpire that may have missed one the pitch before are all part of the sport’s unwritten rules that have all but disappeared. The ABS system threatens to finish that job, trading traditional give and take for a measure of equality reliant upon potentially unreliable technology.

Potential Over-Reliance on Technology: No system is perfect. Any endeavor that involves new technology has the potential to fail or glitch. Look at the delays caused when the new PitchCom devices suddenly don’t work (another on-air grievance for Joe Simpson that makes me laugh every time). If that technology can fail, so can ABS, and that could lead to confusion and delays, which is unfair to fans both in the ballpark and watching at home. After all, the goal is to speed up the game, right? Likely? Probably not. But the possibility is still there, and much like Joe Simpson advocating for a catcher to just put fingers down, there will be times where the human element will win out, I believe. 

Change for the Sake of Change? For baseball purists like me, baseball isn’t just about getting every call right or getting through a game as fast as possible. It’s about the players on the field playing for a win, managers trying to out-duel each other strategically—that brings up another rule change that hits home for me that I’ll cover in the future. It’s about players having fun playing the game—if the players aren’t having fun, neither are the fans. For me, the human element will always hold a special place. Technology is going to change, and the game will need to evolve with it. My only hope is it always changes for the better and not simply for the sake of being different.

Umpire Grading and the Hope for a Better System

Between the fans who want completely automated strike zones and purists like me who would prefer the game be left alone, there is a middle ground that I believe deserves more consideration: the ongoing development of umpire grading through platforms such as the Umpire Scorecards website. This tool provides fans, analysts, journalists, and even the league itself with a purely data-driven assessment of each umpire’s performance. The system generates detailed reports, or scorecards if you like, by analyzing every pitch and highlighting accuracy, consistency, and areas for improvement.

Remarkably, there is data to prove perfection is possible. Over the past few seasons, there have been a few games in which a home plate umpire has achieved 100% call accuracy in a few select games. As an example, in the 2023 season, Umpire Scorecards recorded more than 50 games in which the home plate umpire was 100% accurate with ball and strike calls. Gambling allegations and subsequent dismissal notwithstanding, it’s difficult to discuss exceptional umpire performance without mentioning Pat Hoberg and his perfect game called behind the plate in the 2022 World Series. Such rare but celebrated moments, particularly on such a big stage, are a testament to the most dedicated and proficient umpires, highlighting the ongoing potential for exceptional work without relying on new tech.

This system of public accountability, for me at least, is infinitely preferable when compared to turning things over to an automated system. One reason that stands out is motivation. Being held accountable for a poor game—umpires can have them just like players can—and given an opportunity to improve, knowing that their work is not only being critiqued by their superiors but by fans as well. It gives MLB and its fans concrete data to inform and encourage discussions about umpires and the quality of their work rather than relying solely on perception.

Looking to the future, I hope that continuous improvement in umpire grading can, over time, restore faith in the human element in the sport. By encouraging and rewarding top-performing umpires and providing additional training to those who need it, MLB can raise the standard of officiating across the board. Ideally, I’d like to see a renewed focus on accountability and improvement rather than simply taking the call out of the umpire’s hands and leaving it to a machine. Baseball is known and beloved for its rich storytelling and personal connections between player, field, and fan, and only human umpires can properly facilitate that connection.

Finding the Balance: The Road Ahead

Ultimately, debating the ABS system in MLB is a small part of a much larger conversation about the future of sports and the role technology will play. Like in any other aspect of life, innovation in sports does not happen without some sort of trade-off. Baseball’s evolution hinges on how well it honors both past and future. Automated ball and strike calls may offer consistent strike zones and faster game speed, but as it always has, the heart and soul of the game rests on the shoulders of the men between the lines, whether they wear team uniforms or umpire gear.

What are your feelings on the ABS system? Are you a traditionalist like me who would rather see the game as it used to be? Do you embrace the technology in hopes it will make the game better for future generations? Leave your thoughts in the comment section or send me a message. I’d love to have a dialogue with you. I know this is a little out of the ordinary for this platform, but baseball and maintaining its integrity even as technology improves is important to me. With that in mind, I felt it was appropriate to share this with you. After all, what is a baseball game if not a story in itself?