Challenge system approved!

[liveforoctober]

A couple of interesting nuances that have been asked on Twitter and I thought were good discussion points. 

Regarding overturned calls, if it is a 3-1 count with a runner on 1st and the runner takes off for second and the pitch is called a strike and the runner is thrown out and then the better challenges and wins the challenge... The runner gets second base, correct? 

Additionally, if it is a 2-2 count and the runner takes off from first and the pitch is called a strike... If the catcher thinks it is borderline he should still throw down to 2nd, correct? Because if the play is challenged and overturned.. doesn't the runner get second base with no play made otherwise?

[Underachiever]

This article is helpful: https://www.mlb.com/news/abs-challenge-system-mlb-2026

In particular: 

Can challenges affect runner placement?

Yes. Inevitably, there will be instances in which teams want to challenge a pitch that was called during a play while other things happened on the field. So the umpires will determine whether that call on the field had an impact on the subsequent behavior of the defenders and baserunners. The umpires will let stand any calls unaffected by the incorrect call.

As an example, say there is a runner at second with none out, and the batter is in a full count. The 3-2 pitch is thrown and called a ball, while the runner attempts to steal third. The runner beats the throw from the catcher and is called safe at third, but then the catcher challenges the ball call. Upon review, the pitch is revealed to be a strike. Rather than send the runner back to second base, the runner gets to remain at third, because the initial ball/strike call did not impact the catcher’s ability to try to throw him out. The batter is now out, but the runner is still safe. 

Also note that if a catcher drops a pitch that is initially ruled a ball but is overturned for strike three, the batter is out without requiring the batter or first base to be tagged (as would be required in the event of a traditional dropped third strike).

[Team Canada]

6 hours ago, liveforoctober said:

Additionally, if it is a 2-2 count and the runner takes off from first and the pitch is called a strike... If the catcher thinks it is borderline he should still throw down to 2nd, correct? Because if the play is challenged and overturned.. doesn't the runner get second base with no play made otherwise?

I would imagine in most situations the catcher has already made up his mind to throw (or not) regardless. It's not like you have time to wait for the umpire's call to throw down to second. Also, this is only a relevant question with 2 outs.

[CheezWizHed]

They pretty much did the same thing in the overturned Turang tag.  Brice never actually touched 2nd base, but they assumed that he would've made it if he was called safe on the field.  So, they awarded him 2nd and Ortiz home as a result of the overturned call. 

[SeaBass]

1 minute ago, CheezWizHed said:

They pretty much did the same thing in the overturned Turang tag.  Brice never actually touched 2nd base, but they assumed that he would've made it if he was called safe on the field.  So, they awarded him 2nd and Ortiz home as a result of the overturned call. 

Thank you for this, that makes sense. I kept wondering if Brice ever touched 2nd because no replays showed it.

[MrTPlush]

2 outs, runner attempts steal of 2nd, strike 3 called, runner stops running, catcher makes bad but not horrible throw to second.

what exactly happens? Unable to determine result and they just have to put you back at first? 

[Fear The Chorizo]

As this new world of ABS evolves, I think at some point we are going to see umps tossing players/coaches and perhaps even fans if they start getting chirped for  missed calls.  Already has been a few instances of umps getting noticeably frustrated by challenges.

 

 

[Roderick]

Did anyone see Bauers chirping at Buckner after that half inning was over?  Someone on facebook said he did, but I assume that they are full of it.  But thought I would check.

It would be really stupid to make buckner mad for behind the plate today.  Once two ABS are wrongly challenged, he can go crazy on his calls against us.

[Fear The Chorizo]

17 minutes ago, Roderick said:

Did anyone see Bauers chirping at Buckner after that half inning was over?  Someone on facebook said he did, but I assume that they are full of it.  But thought I would check.

It would be really stupid to make buckner mad for behind the plate today.  Once two ABS are wrongly challenged, he can go crazy on his calls against us.

I think that is the nuance though - only challenge the blatantly bad calls and the ump would need to keep swallowing his pride when they are steadily overturned.  ABS is designed for a CB Buckner game not to decide who wins and loses a ballgame - particularly with umps known to have inconsistent zones with some bad misses, players shouldn't be challenging ball/strike calls that are borderline early in the games.

[Jim Goulart]

Not a fine moment for Andruw.

[torts]

I honestly love it, even if it's 50/50, the number of hissyfits has dropped significantly to just ones that *actually matter*

[SeaBass]

On 4/19/2026 at 5:05 AM, Jim Goulart said:

Not a fine moment for Andruw.

I saw some speculation about this one that the way the catcher caught the ball may have influenced him challenging that pitch. The catcher kind of throws his glove outside the zone and brings it back. I can't find the video but there was one I saw showing how some catchers might be trying to game the system with pitch framing to try to induce a failed batter challenge. Again, I can't really say this is anything more than pure speculation. Certainly didn't look good for Mona.

[titanrick]

My only issue so far has been a couple instances where it looked like a batter or catcher inadvertently challenged.  There shouldn't be a way to accidentally challenge a pitch.  If someone taps their helmet, I thought the ump confirms verbally first.  But it looks like that may not be the case.  Are we going to get someone adjusting their helmet and accidentally burning a challenge?  That needs to get cleaned up.