MLB to experiment with robo umps in a number of Orioles spring training games

MLB has been using an automated balls and strikes system in the minor leagues for several years now. They started using ABS in the Atlantic League back in 2019 and it made its way to Triple-A back in 2023. Overall, the system has been very effective, even if there are still some players that prefer the old, inconsistent way of doing things.

Some like to quote the idea of a "human element" being important in today's game, or even the idea that players arguing with umpires over blown calls is somehow an interesting outcome. But in reality, human umpires are just guessing when it comes to balls and strikes.

Those guys are great at many parts of the job, and there's no reality where their jobs are replaced entirely by robots. But the fact is that they're quite ineffective when it comes to calling balls and strikes. And when you add in pitch framing, which is really just catchers tricking umpires into making incorrect calls, it makes for uninspiring outcomes. We all love to hate on guys like Angel Hernandez, but nobody really wants to see egregious calls in important games, do they?

Well, a meaningful change may be upon us. MLB is getting ready to test an ABS system in this year's spring training games, both in Arizona and in Florida. The Orioles will play 13 of their 28 games with the assistance of ABS, or robo umps. Interestingly, that's on the low side compared to some other teams. The Diamondbacks, for instance, will play 29 games with the ABS system, and 18 of the 30 teams will play at least 20 games with ABS.

MLB is bringing automated balls and strikes to 2025 spring training

Now to be clear, MLB is not implementing a full ABS system. What we'll get is a challenge system, where the umps will make calls as normal, and teams will have a certain number of challenges available per game where they can call for review and potentially have ball and strike calls overturned.

In my opinion, it's a poorly designed half-measure that only partially fixes the problem, which is that the umpires aren't getting the calls right. But it's still a step in the right direction, so we'll take what we can get.

The one obvious point of contention will be how the league measures the strike zone. Take this, for example, from Evan Drellich of The Athletic, "According to data the league included in the presentation, at the big league level the human zone on a 3-0 count typically measures 550 square inches. On an 0-2 count, humans reduced the strike zone to 412 square inches. By contrast, ABS sets the size of the zone at 443 square inches in every count".

Now, this is going to be a big difference for the players, many of whom have never experienced playing baseball with ABS. Some of the younger guys have seen it in action, but many have not. You get used to umpires expanding and contracting the strike zone based on a variety of factors, including the ball/strike count, and then that entire concept gets flipped on its head. But just because umps have been doing it one way forever doesn't mean the league should avoid making necessary corrections to improve the on-field product.

Ultimately, we'll have to wait to see how successful it is. No doubt, there will be some push-back from some of the players, and likely a segment of the fanbase. But using ABS in MLB games is coming one way or the other. Hopefully they get it right, and we can start getting the right call on the field, every time.