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The MLB commissioner, Rob Manfred, aims for the implementation of the automated balls and strikes (ABS) next season.
Manfred announced Wednesday that he and his office would present a proposal to the MLB competition committee for the system to be in place for 2026, a goal he had in mind last summer.
“I think we are going to continue the possibility of changing this process, and we will see what comes out at the end of this,” said Manfred at the MLB headquarters on Wednesday, via athletics.
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Commissioner MLB ROB Manfred (Photos Mike Carlson / MLB via Getty Images)
“I think the teams are really positive on the abs. You know, I have this non -scientific system that I use – my e -mail traffic – and my distinct impression is that the use of ABS in spring formation has made people more inclined to complain about the balls and hit calls by email, for me, referring to the need for ABS. This is without any doubt.”
The system was complete during spring training this year after several seasons in minor leagues. The teams obtained two challenges per game, but were able to keep each challenge won. Only the striker, the launcher or the receiver could challenge a call, and he had to be immediately after the call without the help of the bench or other players.
But there are still folds that require fine adjustment.
“My biggest concern is to work in the process and deploy it in an acceptable way for players,” said Manfred. “There will always be things around the edges that we have to work and anything, and I want them to feel as if we respect the Committee’s process and there were a complete exhibition of concerns about the system, and an attempt to respond to these concerns before going ahead.”
This is another big change in the sport commanded by Manfred, which implemented a pitch timer, larger bases and quarter -work limits in 2023. However, fans seem to like changes as attendance has increased in each of the last two years. It was the first time since 2011 and 2012 that attendance has increased during consecutive seasons.
The defender of the New York Center Yankees Aaron Judge (99) and manager Aaron Boone discuss. (Wendell Cruzusa today Sports)
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The average challenge of ABS among minors took 17 seconds, which should not affect the rhythm of the game, which has increased considerably in the middle of the Commissioner’s rule changes.
“We have negotiated the right to do this type of rules,” said Manfred. “It was a really important part of the agreement from our point of view. Everyone understood what the rules of the road.
However, it would undoubtedly be the biggest change of all, and this would be a fairly wild timing: a lockout is looming in the collective negotiation of the MLB ends in December of next year.
The Philadelphia Phillies Manager Rob Thomson was ejected from the game. (AP photo / Matt Rourke)
But Manfred said: “In the past, I was a little delicate on the year before negotiation. I don’t feel that right now.”
