Every facet of the world is becoming more technologically advanced, and Major League
Baseball is slowly adapting. After trying it out for years in the minors and in spring
training last season, the MLB will have a challenge system for the 2026 season. Atlanta
Braves pitcher Chris Sale has no intention of using it, though.
While speaking with the media yesterday, Sale said that it’s his job to pitch and the
umpire’s job to call the result. He said he has no interest in challenging calls and will
defer to his catcher for that decision.
“I’m not an umpire. That’s their job. I’m a starting pitcher. I’ve never called balls and
strikes in my life.” – Chris Sale on the ABS
ABS Should Just Be The Beginning
The MLB has been plagued by bad Umpires for years, and not just because they can’t
tell the difference between a ball thrown right down the middle and a ball that’s two feet
off the plate. Umpires have come to believe that they are a part of the game. That the
fans are there to see them as much as they have come to see the teams and players. If
a player argues a call, they are ejected. If they shake their head and don’t say anything,
they are ejected. If they make a face the umpire doesn’t like, the umpire starts yelling
and antagonizing them until they speak, so the ump can throw them out.
Umpires should be nothing more than background scenery. In fact, every one of them
shouldn’t even be there, and should be replaced by robots who can do their job better.
Not every job in America should be done by robots, but the ones where small errors can
affect the direction of the world (like a missed strike call or an incorrect safe/out call)
should be handled with black-and-white intelligence that has no room for error.
Professional sports have been ruled by human error for centuries, and it’s time for that
to stop. The athletes should run the games, and every single call should be accurate.
This doesn’t just go for baseball, but every sport. A player should never be called out of
bounds when he wasn’t. A catch should never be called a drop. What would the world
look like if the correct call was made every time, and athletes play on their respective
field/court, determined the outcome, instead of an incompetent whistle?
Chris Sale Should Advance The Cause
It’s understandable that Sale prefers to stay out of the discussion. That’s been his MO
since his rookie year. It’s not about him, and it never was. Ironically, his attitude is the
one that umpires should be showing. He should be a part of the fight and challenge
every call that’s missed. What he misunderstands is that he wouldn’t be making it about
him; he would be shining a spotlight on poor officiating.
Major League Baseball has always moved too slowly, and is really just entering the
1980’s, while the world around it is in the 2020’s. This is the reason they are
hemorrhaging fans, and the ones they do have average 60 years old. Maybe someday
the league will get with the times and fix all the problems in the game, including making
sure Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens make the Hall of Fame. That’s a story for another
day, though.
