Baseball fans are eagerly awaiting opening day. And while spring training is a time for teams to test out new players and strategies, it’s also a time for Major League Baseball to trial new rules and procedures. One of the things that the league has been testing this year is a robotic system to call balls and strikes.
The Automated Ball-Strike System, which is based on the same technology used for line judging in tennis, isn’t calling every pitch, but is used to back up a challenge system at the plate. The tech is already in use in Triple-A games, and could make it to the major leagues in the years ahead. Baseball writer Davy Andrews joins Host Ira Flatow to talk about the technology, and how it could subtly change the rules of the game.
Further Reading
- Learn about the ABS system’s first test during spring training via AP.
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Segment Guests
Davy Andrews
Davy Andrews is a musician and baseball writer. He’s a contributing writer for Fangraphs, and is based in Brooklyn, New York.
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Ira Flatow is the founder and host of Science Friday. His green thumb has revived many an office plant at death’s door.