For the better part of two seasons, Major League Baseball finally felt like it had solved one of its most persistent problems.
In addition to shaving minutes off the average contest, the pitch clock restored rhythm and gave baseball back its pulse. And now, in the name of technological “perfection,” MLB risks slowing that heartbeat all over again.
The Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge system has been widely welcomed during spring training. Fans love the idea of accountability. They love seeing a pitch called correctly. They love watching a borderline call get overturned on a big screen.