Timely and important topic. I'm a big fan of Weiss but I think he needs to lay down some guidelines for early in the game and non-critical situations. Your data is interesting but I still come away thinking that Acuna and Heim don't have the skill (at judging the strike zone) at this point to risk wasting challenges early on. What I think is really cool about the ABS is that everyone - players and umpires - is going to improve in their ability to judge a pitch as the season progresses.
Acuña's misses have been the most egregious. I wanted to show a graphic, but MLB didn't make it easy and I didn't have time to make one of my own with the precision needed
Good article, it will be interesting to see the progression of the system to year's end. It has the possibility to improve both the batter's, catcher's and umpire's grasp of the strike zone. You can almost audibly hear a sound of relief from the umpire when a team loses its last appeal. Because I don't want to let the umpire off the hot seat it would be a big priority for me to carry that last challenge into the 8th and 9th inning. I know there are high leverage situations occurring throughout the game, but losing both challenges early releases the pressure of the ump being proven wrong by that team for the rest of the game. I only see that situation hurting the team without a challenge left.
That was a catcher challenge by James McCann, but it was a 0-0 count in the first inning. McCann won the challenge, too. Yaz hasn't actually initiated a challenge this season
Timely and important topic. I'm a big fan of Weiss but I think he needs to lay down some guidelines for early in the game and non-critical situations. Your data is interesting but I still come away thinking that Acuna and Heim don't have the skill (at judging the strike zone) at this point to risk wasting challenges early on. What I think is really cool about the ABS is that everyone - players and umpires - is going to improve in their ability to judge a pitch as the season progresses.
"Acuna and Heim don't have the skill (at judging the strike zone) at this point to risk wasting challenges early on."
This will not be well received by the faction of Braves Nation who think any criticism of Ronald is tantamount to being sacrilegious, but I agree.
Acuña's misses have been the most egregious. I wanted to show a graphic, but MLB didn't make it easy and I didn't have time to make one of my own with the precision needed
I hope the ABS system leads to a relegation policy for umpires from the majors to single A.
Good article, it will be interesting to see the progression of the system to year's end. It has the possibility to improve both the batter's, catcher's and umpire's grasp of the strike zone. You can almost audibly hear a sound of relief from the umpire when a team loses its last appeal. Because I don't want to let the umpire off the hot seat it would be a big priority for me to carry that last challenge into the 8th and 9th inning. I know there are high leverage situations occurring throughout the game, but losing both challenges early releases the pressure of the ump being proven wrong by that team for the rest of the game. I only see that situation hurting the team without a challenge left.
The really, really frustrating part is when THE ENTIRE BALL IS INSIDE THE STRIKE ZONE! That is just bad process. It's bad decision making, too!
Great article as always, Lindsay!
(semi) Serious Question of the Day:
Who is worse at the ABS the Braves or C.B. Bucknor?
I'll hang up and listen!
Didn't Yastremski have a bad ABS call in the 1st or second inning of a game after just one pitch? That one was terrible.
That was a catcher challenge by James McCann, but it was a 0-0 count in the first inning. McCann won the challenge, too. Yaz hasn't actually initiated a challenge this season