Robo Umps are the Future
The Manfred Era has brought about a lot of much needed change to MLB. Some was a resounding success like the pitch clock (I tried re-watching 2004 ALCS Game 7 and it was almost unwatchably slow) and some came with mixed reviews like the Manfred runner in extra innings. I'm not going to get into the merits of each individual change, but one thing is certain. More change is coming.
The most recent update that has the old heads shaking their fists at the sky is granting each team the chance to challenge balls and strikes. With the tap of a helmet, batters can now quickly challenge and overturn those egregious calls that quite frankly were ruining the game. In the modern world there is absolutely no excuse to have results decided by umpires who would rather prioritize their dinner reservations over the integrity of the game. This begs the question: If this magic ABS system in the sky that the old farts are shaking their fists at is all knowing and is the definitive source of truth for balls and strikes, why is that system not making every call? Why are we okay with horrible judgment calls that will inevitably happen after a team uses their two challenges? I have yet to hear any convincing answer to this.
Now don't get me wrong, there are some human elements that I will miss. Everybody loves a scapegoat and we'll no longer get any of those beautiful "worst call" montages. However, on the bright side, this cements Angel Hernandez's legacy as the most hated umpire of the social media era.
Bottom line, this is a half-assed implementation of sorely needed technology. This is a step in the right direction, but it's time for us to rip off the band-aid and go full robo.
Also, buy your Seiya Suzuki stock now. The Cubs slugger has led the league in called strikes on pitches out of the zone over the past three seasons.