Mets, Yankees fans have mixed opinions on baseball's ABS system

The automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system has become the craze of the baseball universe through nearly two weeks of the MLB season.

The instant tap of the head by a batter, catcher or pitcher to signal a challenge of a pitch has led to oohs and aahs in ballparks across the country, with video boards and home televisions alike immediately displaying the animated graphic to reveal to the world whether a pitch really is a ball or strike.

Through three series for both the Yankees and Mets, most fans can see the positives from the system being in place. But ABS has led to a wide array of opinions, ranging from baseball purists who are bothered by the lack of human element to some fans who think the system should be even more beneficial for the players.

“I love it,” said Yankees fan Warren Cheesman, 53, of Rockville Centre. “I think it gives batters a chance to protest a bad third strike call. I think it seems to work well. It looks precise and decisive, and I think it's probably going to change again. But it's a good first step, and so far I love it.”

Mets fan Justin Silberlust, 27, of Dix Hills, noted: “I'm a traditionalist. I feel like with baseball, in a sense, I'm not the biggest fan of it. I think it takes away from the natural flow of the game. And I think that part of sports and just baseball is you got to make judgment calls, and that's the thrill and that's the fun of it.”

Both teams have been fairly successful with ABS challenges thus far. The Mets have won 64% of their challenges, the sixth-best mark in MLB entering Monday, and the Yankees have won 61%, the 10th-best clip. Mets infielder Mark Vientos has won three challenges, tied for the most by any MLB batter. Yankees batters have won eight challenges, tied for the second-most by any MLB team.

“As many people would agree with, it's just getting things right,” said Yankees fan Mitchell Klee, 23, of Port Washington, an ABS proponent. “There's just so many egregious moments with balls and strikes that you kind of need to get it right … If something is egregious, it helps the team not be completely destroyed because of a bad call or a bad two calls or an ump having a bad day.”

Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez recorded the first successful ABS challenge in MLB history on March 26, the Mets’ Opening Day game against the Pirates at Citi Field. With one out in the top of the third inning, Freddy Peralta threw a full-count fastball to Oneil Cruz that painted the inside corner e but was called a ball by home plate umpire Adrian Johnson. Alvarez tapped the right side of his helmet, and about 10 seconds later, a walk officially turned into a strikeout.

“Through the first 10 games, ABS has been a welcome addition and it has been a friend of the Mets,” said Mets fan Greg Princivil, 42, of Middle Island. “... At a 6-4 record, where you're just above .500, you can't help but be thankful at that welcome addition.”

Yankees fan Will Chiarucci, 35, of Bellmore, wasn’t a fan of ABS at first, but now he isn’t against it. He attended a free MLB umpire camp in Minnesota in August 2024, which gives him a unique perspective when it comes to ABS.

“They mentioned ABS, and it could be a good thing or a bad thing,” he said. “To be honest with you, being an umpire, it's hard enough as it is, having to call balls and strikes that might not be balls and strikes. So in a way, it can help you out.

“But it could also take away a job, per se.”

Teams receive two challenges per game, though they retain them if successful. In other words, teams are out of challenges once they lose two of them. The exact number of challenges has led to the biggest debate among fans. Cheesman recognized that number is bound to change over time, and many would like to see that.

“I would like to increase it,” said Mets fan Daniel Fromm, 43, of Bayside. “I think just due to the speed of the results, I would like to increase it to maybe three or four, but I think no more than four at a given time. Again, I don't think it disrupts the game much. It's literally, by the time the catcher throws the ball back to the pitcher, within a second after it's already the result is determined. So I think just upping it a little bit may be beneficial next year.”

Klee would like to see the first challenge become a “use it and lose it” option, with teams having the ability to retain their second challenge unlimited times if they are correct.

Even Silberlust, despite not being fond of ABS as a whole, could appreciate how MLB is “trying to put the integrity of the calls first.” He likes how the league is taking a “tech-savvy” approach rather than staying away from innovation.

ABS might not be the last challenge addition coming, either. MLB began testing a check-swing challenge system in the Arizona Fall League in 2024. It moved to the Single-A Florida State League last May and will expand to the Triple-A Pacific Coast League on May 5.

Regardless of any future moves, all past changes with technology have become embedded in the game’s DNA. The pitch clock, which was put in MLB in 2023, and instant replay challenges, which were introduced in 2014, quickly became the norm for the average fan. Fans think ABS eventually will, too.

“I definitely think since it's still new, people are just adjusting,” said Yankees fan Nicoletta Alcamo, 19, of Massapequa Park. “It's kind of like when they added the pitch clock, just stuff like that. Baseball's a game of tradition, but I think that this will add to that.

“As the game evolves, I think baseball has always adapted over time. This is just another step forward. The core of the game is still the same, but I think it just adds to the fairness and accountability of it.”