Giants’ Webb and Ramos offer differing opinions on the inevitable ABS system originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
Two of the Giants’ biggest stars have different opinions on a polarizing topic in the baseball world.
On Tuesday, before the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field, league commissioner Rob Manfred reinforced his stance on the automated ball-striking system that will be tested at the MLB level in spring training next year, claiming that It is “feasible” that an automated strike zone system could be in place by 2026.
O John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle spoke with Giants starting pitcher Logan Webb during All-Star Week about the ABS system, with the young ace offering an honest look at the inevitable change.
“To be honest with you,” Webb told Shea, “I think I get the most out-of-zone hits in baseball, so probably not. I would like to keep it as it is.”
As Shea pointed out, Webb led all MLB pitchers in hits called (433) before Friday’s series against the Colorado Rockies, according to Statcast.
However, in his first match in the second half in Saturday’s 4-3 loss to the Rockies at Coors Field, Webb may not have gotten much help from home plate umpire Chris Conroy.
Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos, who has been familiar with the ABS system since its implementation at the Triple-A level this season, offered a slightly different take than Webb.
“I don’t like a machine calling it,” Ramos told Shea. “I like the referee to call, but I would like to be able to challenge his decisions too. I had that in the minors and I like it. The referee can make a mistake and we can make a mistake with a challenge. Anyway, we can take care of it at that time.”
The ABS challenge system, which current and former minor leaguers like Ramos are familiar with, is a hybrid approach to traditional officiating and an automated strike zone. Umpires call balls and strikes as normal, but players have a limited number of pitches they can challenge per game.
To challenge, the batter simply taps his helmet and the call is reviewed in seconds using Hawk-Eye camera technology.
The ABS challenge system is proving to be effective in the minor leagues and it will only be a matter of time before Webb, Ramos and the Giants use it in the major leagues.
