YOUR ABS impressions first pass.

[GUNTERSVOL]

Like the fact every pitch (until reviews are used up) keeps the umps honest.

According to my math challenged calculations the SEC zone is roughly 4% higher, 4% lower and 5% wider on each side of the plate (19 vs 17 in) than MLB. Not sure why. So all of these overturns where barely touching are suspect but still a plus.

The measurements are taken at mid plate so a ball can actually enter the zone out front or behind that point and not be called a strike.

Saw some three dimensional, holographic type system earlier in the development process I would love to see perfected down the road. The whole truth.

What are your impressions and wishes. Don’t think they can put the genie back in the bottle.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Saw some three dimensional, holographic type system earlier in the development process I would love to see perfected down the road. The whole truth.

Yep. They’ve moved away from this presentation at the MLB level. Not sure why. Seems like it was before they instituted the ABS this year, in order to develop confidence in the system overall.

 

[Oldvoldad]

Like the fact every pitch (until reviews are used up) keeps the umps honest.

According to my math challenged calculations the SEC zone is roughly 4% higher, 4% lower and 5% wider on each side of the plate (19 vs 17 in) than MLB. Not sure why. So all of these overturns where barely touching are suspect but still a plus.

The measurements are taken at mid plate so a ball can actually enter the zone out front or behind that point and not be called a strike.

Saw some three dimensional, holographic type system earlier in the development process I would love to see perfected down the road. The whole truth.

What are your impressions and wishes. Don’t think they can put the genie back in the bottle.

I feel like if they are going to use that system, just pull the ump from calling balls and strikes all together. Speed up the game. I'll hang up and wait to get blasted now.....

 

[wtmvol]

I love it. It just needs to be faster. Seemed like it was on dial-up internet.

 

[Tenacjim]

Overall, I like it. Even with bigger dimensions than MLB, it’s better than nothing. They were able to make the reviews fairly quickly so it didn’t slow the game down. A couple were in key situations (difference between ball 4 and strike 3) so it’s good to be able to get the call correct.

Catchers were by far the most accurate at having successful challenges which isn’t a surprise. ABS did validate an Ump I think sux at calling balls and strikes (Jeff Head) got overturned at a high %. The Ump in our SC game (Eric Goshay) was by far the most accurate (only 1 of 6 challenges overturned)and that game ”felt” like it was called well. I would like to see it implemented in the Regular Season (along with banning the shift).

ABS Challenge Tracker For Every 2026 SEC Tournament Game

Tracking every ABS challenge throughout the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament as college baseball takes another step toward a more technology-driven future.

www.baseballamerica.com

 

[chuckiepoo]

I feel like if they are going to use that system, just pull the ump from calling balls and strikes all together. Speed up the game. I'll hang up and wait to get blasted now.....

I think part of that was via television broadcast production. At least once i recall a batter’s reaction to the jumbotron well before the broadcast graphic.

 

[WaywardVol]

Yep. They’ve moved away from this presentation at the MLB level. Not sure why. Seems like it was before they instituted the ABS this year, in order to develop confidence in the system overall.

I thought strike zone was where the ball first crosses the plate and not the depth of the plate.

 

[WaywardVol]

Overall, I like it. Even with bigger dimensions than MLB, it’s better than nothing. They were able to make the reviews fairly quickly so it didn’t slow the game down. A couple were in key situations (difference between ball 4 and strike 3) so it’s good to be able to get the call correct.

Catchers were by far the most accurate at having successful challenges which isn’t a surprise. ABS did validate an Ump I think sux at calling balls and strikes (Jeff Head) got overturned at a high %. The Ump in our SC game (Eric Goshay) was by far the most accurate (only 1 of 6 challenges overturned)and that game ”felt” like it was called well. I would like to see it implemented in the Regular Season (along with banning the shift).

ABS Challenge Tracker For Every 2026 SEC Tournament Game

Tracking every ABS challenge throughout the 2026 SEC Baseball Tournament as college baseball takes another step toward a more technology-driven future.

www.baseballamerica.com

I think this will help the SEC re-train or weed out some guys. I thought both umps were remarkably good in our games. Even the overturned calls were razor close.

We got a strike out on one of our reviews. Pretty cool. Overall, I’m for it just for nothing more than to keep the umps on their toes.

 

[Jax_Vol]

Much like the cell phone, I think it is more of a novelty item..

 

[chuckiepoo]

Much like the cell phone, I think it is more of a novelty item..

 

[chuckiepoo]

I thought strike zone was where the ball first crosses the plate and not the depth of the plate.

Great opinion. Mixed accuracy:

2D or 3D Strike Zone

 

[txbo]

I think this will help the SEC re-train or weed out some guys. I thought both umps were remarkably good in our games. Even the overturned calls were razor close.

We got a strike out on one of our reviews. Pretty cool. Overall, I’m for it just for nothing more than to keep the umps on their toes.

Interesting how the accountability of this system coinsides with the best strike zones of the year.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Interesting how the accountability of this system coinsides with the best strike zones of the year.

I think it’s great. Kinda like Umpire Scorecards but live. Escort the bottom ten percent to the door and elevate the top ten percent of the fresh blood.

 

[WallyBalls]

Works better than I expected. I’d like to know what their future plans for it are.

They could probably dispense with announcing every single challenge but that would get sped up in time.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Works better than I expected. I’d like to know what their future plans for it are.

They could probably dispense with announcing every single challenge but that would get sped up in time.

The game should remain focused on the game and the players. The umpires are only a nasty necessity and should stay in the background.

 

[taylorvol]

I loved it. Didn’t hurt flow of game and provided nice QC of home plate umpire.

 

[Bigvalley84]

I like it just think the strike zone is too big though

 

[VolGirl81]

I liked it a lot! Best thing was it was quick!

 

[tennrich1]

I personally thought it added a unique dimension to the game. A good friend who’s a retired longtime D1 head baseball coach told me he doesn’t like it. He thinks it can interfere with the catcher/coach/umpire relationship which apparently is unique in itself. Hard to stop “progress” though.

 

[Jax_Vol]

I liked it a lot! Best thing was it was quick!

twss

 

[Jimmy Football]

Not looking great. They’ve lost a lot of definition, and at my age, their prospects for improvement aren’t good.

 

[sigmundoooz]

Like the fact every pitch (until reviews are used up) keeps the umps honest.

According to my math challenged calculations the SEC zone is roughly 4% higher, 4% lower and 5% wider on each side of the plate (19 vs 17 in) than MLB. Not sure why. So all of these overturns where barely touching are suspect but still a plus.

The measurements are taken at mid plate so a ball can actually enter the zone out front or behind that point and not be called a strike.

Saw some three dimensional, holographic type system earlier in the development process I would love to see perfected down the road. The whole truth.

What are your impressions and wishes. Don’t think they can put the genie back in the bottle.

Having umpired for about 10 years, I love it. I wish it could be implemented with every pitch. If the technology works, it works. Have the umpires with an earpiece just like the other players. When the pitch is a strike, they get a tone. Easy to call "strike" after you hear the tone. No tone, it's a ball. If the signal can be instant, it could work without affecting the flow, look, and feel of the game from an umpiring perspective. Granted, there would likely be an adjustment period for the umpires but, eventually it becomes second nature.

 

[sigmundoooz]

I like it just think the strike zone is too big though

That's not really an ABS issue. That is a rule issue with the definition of the strike zone.

 

[Orange.]

I love it. It just needs to be faster. Seemed like it was on dial-up internet.

Well, they are in Alabama.

 

[chuckiepoo]

Having umpired for about 10 years, I love it. I wish it could be implemented with every pitch. If the technology works, it works. Have the umpires with an earpiece just like the other players. When the pitch is a strike, they get a tone. Easy to call "strike" after you hear the tone. No tone, it's a ball. If the signal can be instant, it could work without affecting the flow, look, and feel of the game from an umpiring perspective. Granted, there would likely be an adjustment period for the umpires but, eventually it becomes second nature.

Makes way too much sense…