A bit OT: SEC baseball to try ball/strike challenge system during SEC Tourn
Per ESPN: "SEC given OK to use ABS for conference baseball tournament
"The NCAA Baseball Rules Committee on Monday approved the SEC's request to implement a challenge system for balls and strikes for each game of this year's conference tournament. It will be similar to the system used in Major League Baseball.
"Teams can challenge an umpire's strike or ball call via an automated ball tracking system that monitors the exact location of each pitch, relative to the specific batter's zone.
"The introduction of this challenge system at the SEC Tournament reflects our continued commitment to innovation," commissioner Greg Sankey said. "This addition represents a continued step forward for our game, aligns more closely with the professional level and supports the development of our student-athletes as they prepare for success at the next level."
"Each team will have three challenges to start the game. If a challenge is successful, the team will retain the challenge. If the original call is confirmed, the team will lose the challenge.
"Upon a challenge, the pitch location will be compared against the electronic strike zone. The result will then be displayed on the stadium videoboard and broadcast.
"The ABS system would be allowed for other conference tournaments if a conference wanted to use it and followed the same protocols as the SEC.
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Based on some of the ball/strike calls I've seen this season in softball (i.e., Nora's strike 3 call from Sunday), I would not be opposed to the idea.
Link:
ESPN Story
16 Replies
2mo
The inconsistency of the strike zone. Sometimes it seems the umpire thinks "she was just going to take that pitch all the way. it was close so I'm going to call it a strike". In most other circumstances it would be a ball. Would love the ABS system.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
V
VTBAMA
2mo
in a bench player being ejected. Evan Hughes was very upset with it for several innings. He kept referring back to it and mentioned the use of ABS.
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
May be expensive
(In response to this post by Catbird132)
2mo
That is certainly true for MLB. However, it will be a long time before the 300+ teams that play D1 softball have it in place. MLB use Hawkeye Systems. My AI friend says "independent estimates put a full Hawk-Eye installation for a sports venue in the range of several hundred thousand to over a million dollars".
** Edited by MidloHokie at 5/5/2026, 7:14:08 AM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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nkhooch
2mo
But, in most cases we are talking fractions of an inch making the difference. If anything, it should give people increased appreciation for the precision required to make these calls perfect every time.
However, I would expect there a lot more variance in college ump calls because they are not going to be as good as MLB umpires. And even a little more variance in softball.
One thing I will be watching is how home crowds react to reviews. Sometimes their complaints will be validated and naturally cheers and pats on the back will abound. Sometimes calls will be upheld. Hard to yell "be consistent" and fume at a computer. From watching a few games on TV, about half of the calls home crowds question look like good calls to me. About 30% could go either way. And about 20% were calls that were wrong.
One thing that is difficult for umps is this concept of "their strike zone". Teams always say that as long as the umps are consistent they can adapt to a strike zone from ump to ump. Which is fair now. But, won't be the case anymore. Every umpire will have to have the SAME strike zone. Which is good but might be challenging at first.
** Edited by nkhooch at 5/5/2026, 2:55:17 AM
** Edited by nkhooch at 5/5/2026, 1:22:47 PM
(In response to this post by VTChip)
2mo
But yes if it expands into regular season, will be very interesting how fans and schools use and react to the reviews.
(In response to this post by nkhooch)
2mo
Mine was more true (humble brag*) to the spirit and letter of the rule. Only white plate area, no black border which he exposed whereas I covered it. Catch ANY corner or edge of the plate, or the bottom of the knee, or about mid-letters, and I called a strike. He had complaints of Greg Maddox syndrome - 3-4 inches off of the plate.
*Of course, this does not except my depth perception and judgment.
We had a rec director who, I swear, called strikes that BOUNCED through the SZ. No one said a word. He'd toss them in a heartbeat.
We had a slo-pitch umpire who had a reputation of calling the game's first pitch a strike. The joke was it could be thrown over the backstop and be a strike.
(In response to this post by nkhooch)
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nkhooch
2mo
but I have a former co-worker who umps ACC softball. He told me umps are not offended by reviews. None of them want to feel like they missed a call and impacted the outcome of a game. They want to get the call right. So, I think the review process with limits on the # is a good way to do this. We should all understand now how much having umpires speeds up the game. Even with the technology available, how much slower would things drag if we had to have a computer make every call, strikezone or field calls.
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
2mo
I once had a baseball coach of a rec team question my strike zone. I did a self-examination and lowered it at the letters. After the game, he apologized for challenging it. I told him I would question his sincerity in coaching if he hadn't or didn't work an edge. 1. he was a coach I respected and 2. was a likeable, fairminded person.
The only aspect of officiating I absolutely did not tolerate being questioned was my integrity. And my glasses if taken too far.
(In response to this post by nkhooch)
2mo
use the dimensions of the batter? Bottom of knee to just below the chest?
(In response to this post by VTChip)
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nkhooch
2mo
work.
(In response to this post by HOKIE SEAN)
2mo
No scrunching down. Has to be determined as the batter assumes her/his stance.
(In response to this post by nkhooch)
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nkhooch
2mo
crouches. There are pitches that catch the inside corner and are called a strike that she jumps back from. Some fans assume that because she jumps back that the pitch was off the plate. I suspect the same thing happens when pitches that look high to a crouching batter are called strikes.
We have to accept that the technology is drawing the "perfect" strike zone. I haven't seen strong objections there. Have you seen "zones" that you don't feel like are accurately capturing the rulebook strike zone?
I also deplore accusing umps of being purposefully biased in their calls (integrity). Which is why I push back when I hear that on here. Along with league-biased reviews (on field calls).
** Edited by nkhooch at 5/5/2026, 2:03:28 PM
(In response to this post by TomTurkey)
2mo
Mid-letters seems reasonable, but some umps stop at the beltline, or so it seems that way.
There is probably also a personal preference for corners and kneecaps, and the front edge of home plate, especially with drop balls and curve balls, i.e., change ups.
My issue is pitches fully in the river or, mercy sake, in the opposite batter's box. Not as pitches to entice a swing, but called strikes. Makes batters chase bad pitches as they try to figure out what "consistency" is.
For me, if the ball "grazes" the "zone," it was a strike. But, I was a hitter's ump.
(In response to this post by nkhooch)
2mo
Remember my interview with umpire Landon Baptiste in Salem?
He spoke about the ball/strike report the umpires get after most games, so it sounds like the technology is already there, although he did mention potential issues with short or tall batters.
(In response to this post by HOKIE SEAN)