The All-Star Game will introduce automated technology for challenging balls and strikes, a first for Major League Baseball after successful trials in minor leagues. The new challenge system gives each team two opportunities to contest calls, which are initiated by pitchers, catchers, or batters tapping their helmets. Players like Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes express mixed feelings, with some preferring the traditional human element of umpiring. The system aims to address inconsistencies in strike zone calls that have long affected the game.
For the first time, the midsummer classic is going to be using automated technology to allow pitchers, catchers and batters to challenge balls and strikes - a system that's been in use in the minor leagues and in spring training but had never been put in place before at a major league park.
According to MLB, the challenge system will have the same rules as were used in spring training: Each team starts the game with two challenges and they keep their challenge if they are deemed correct.
Pitchers are largely unfazed - at least before the game gets going... I have this thing where I think everything's a strike until the umpire calls it a ball.
I really do like the human element of the game. I think this is one of those things that you kind of think that umpires are great until they're not, and so I could kind of care less either way, to be honest.
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