MLB 2026 predictions: are the Dodgers inevitable? Maybe not …
The World Series champions have somehow become even stronger. But there are a few teams who could stop them from retaining their title
Juan Soto, Tarik Skubal, Shohei Ohtani and Aaron Judge will be in the mix for awards this season. Composite: Guardian Pictures (via Getty) The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System is … A welcome introduction. Recent years have seen a tactical flattening of the game with the introduction of the universal DH, the banning of the shift and the three-batter minimum rule, but this adds an interesting wrinkle to game management.
The league table of catchers’ challenge percentages will be fascinating. AE The robo-ump makes me sick , but I also didn’t love the pitch clock and I could never go back to 3hr 45min games. In the end I think we’ll all get used it fairly quickly.
Phillies left-hander Jesús Luzardo claimed he wouldn’t use it all year and didn’t make it one inning before he reversed course. BAG Count me among the naysayers . There’s something pure about a pitcher figuring out the nuances of a particular ump’s strike zone.
And ABS minimizes an important aspect of a catcher’s repertoire: framing. MJ Umps have gone from God to gotcha thanks to instant replay and now, ABS. It’s been a slow, painful demise for the men in blue and now umps will be emasculated even more acutely.
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