ABS

Automated Ball-Strike System will likely be implemented soon in baseball. They will add a challenge for the batter, pitcher, or catcher to use. And if you miss the call, you lose the challenge. It’s another element of strategy to help when egregious errors occur. What I find interesting is that the MLB will not eliminate umpires. Even though they could, they could get every call accurate. But getting every call accurate would be missing the point of baseball. Every umpire has a different interpretation of the strike zone. As a fan, it can be frustrating when the calls don’t go your way. The problem is when fans expect umpires to get every call right, and the option is available, too. Automation isn’t the answer for baseball. The goal is to be entertained. And humans add exciting, unpredictable elements that make the game beautiful. Something to think about as we continue to integrate AI more into our lives. Flaws are sometimes features.