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We're still in the first month of MLB using its automated strike zone (ABS) challenge system in regular season games, and it turns out that some old habits are tough to break.
Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado certainly experienced that on Sunday.
Among the rules for initiating an ABS challenge is a time limit. The batter, catcher or pitcher must immediately signal for a challenge, and it's up to the umpire's discretion to deny a challenge attempt. And during the eighth inning of the D-backs' matchup with the Braves, home plate umpire Lance Barrett was right to deny Arenado's challenge.
The reason: Arenado briefly forgot that he didn't have to argue a call.
When Arenado took a 1-1 pitch from Robert Suarez for a strike, he pointed at the spot and initially argued the call before remembering, "Oh, wait. I can challenge." But by that point, it was too late. Arenado would have needed to immediately tap his helmet in order to send the call to ABS.
What was probably more frustrating to Arenado was that he was right. The strike call would have been overturned had he successfully initiated that challenge. It probably didn't help that the World Baseball Classic didn't have ABS, so Arenado had less time to get used to the system than other players did.
Arenado ended up striking out swinging on the following pitch, but the D-backs did end up winning in the 10th to split their series with Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nolan Arenado had challenge denied after arguing a strike call
Continue reading...
Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado certainly experienced that on Sunday.
Among the rules for initiating an ABS challenge is a time limit. The batter, catcher or pitcher must immediately signal for a challenge, and it's up to the umpire's discretion to deny a challenge attempt. And during the eighth inning of the D-backs' matchup with the Braves, home plate umpire Lance Barrett was right to deny Arenado's challenge.
The reason: Arenado briefly forgot that he didn't have to argue a call.
When Arenado took a 1-1 pitch from Robert Suarez for a strike, he pointed at the spot and initially argued the call before remembering, "Oh, wait. I can challenge." But by that point, it was too late. Arenado would have needed to immediately tap his helmet in order to send the call to ABS.
What was probably more frustrating to Arenado was that he was right. The strike call would have been overturned had he successfully initiated that challenge. It probably didn't help that the World Baseball Classic didn't have ABS, so Arenado had less time to get used to the system than other players did.
Arenado ended up striking out swinging on the following pitch, but the D-backs did end up winning in the 10th to split their series with Atlanta.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Nolan Arenado had challenge denied after arguing a strike call
Continue reading...
