PHOENIX (AP) 鈥� San Francisco Giants rookie Bryce Eldridge was logged at 6-foot-7 鈥渁nd some change,鈥� he said. That was the measurement for the slugger for the major leagues’ Automated Ball-Strike System.
That is one expansive strike zone 鈥� but a more defined one, at least.
鈥淚 think they told me I鈥檓 the tallest guy they鈥檝e measured, position player-wise,鈥� Eldridge said during spring training. 鈥淪o I got that going for me, at least. So I鈥檝e got the biggest zone, the biggest ABS.鈥�
After years of testing in the minors, for reviewing ball/strike calls is going to be used in regular-season games in the majors this year. The abbreviation for the setup is ABS, but the most important letters when it comes to the change just might be S-I-Z-E 鈥� relating to the strike zone for some of the game’s tallest players.
鈥淚 got a lot of respect for the umpires and what they do behind the plate,” New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “So I can usually pride myself in not showing them up or putting on a show or doing anything like that because they got a tough job back there. So we鈥檒l see. I鈥檒l find the right time to use it. If they鈥檙e pretty outrageous calls, I think I’ll use it.鈥�
The 6-foot-7 Judge, who won last year, sounded more excited about the possibilities for 6-5 teammate Giancarlo Stanton.
鈥淗is whole career has been kind of getting screwed over. And also now, this kind of changes everything,鈥� Judge said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 so routine oriented to where you get a bad call, you get a good call, whatever, it鈥檚 kind of about flushing to get to the next pitch. Well, now you got 2 seconds to try to make up your mind.鈥�
Strike zones vary depending on a player鈥檚 height 鈥� starting at 53.5% of a batter鈥檚 height for the top and 27% of a batter鈥檚 height for the bottom. The top and the bottom of the zone for baseball’s biggest giants 鈥� a list that also includes 6-7 center fielder Oneil Cruz of the Pittsburgh Pirates and 6-6 left fielder James Wood of the Washington Nationals 鈥� have long been two difficult areas for umpires.
But the ABS system provides an opportunity for a closer look.
Each team has the ability to challenge two calls per game. A team retains its challenge if successful, similar to the regulations for video reviews. A team out of challenges for a game tied after nine innings would get one additional challenge in each extra inning.
Only a batter, pitcher or catcher may challenge a call, signaling with the tap of a helmet or cap, and assistance from the dugout is not allowed.
鈥淪pecifically with Aaron Judge, I think like his zone I think is higher than most, right? Because he鈥檚 taller,鈥� Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly said. 鈥淪o you might catch one at the knees that feels like a normal strike, but it鈥檚 low on him. So I think it鈥檚 another aspect of catchers is we鈥檙e going to have to understand who鈥檚 at the plate, what the zone is like. I mean, if it鈥檚 a smaller zone, that ball that might feel like it鈥檚 a strike at the top, it鈥檚 probably a ball.鈥�
The 21-year-old Eldridge, who got to use ABS in the minors, said he thinks it’s great for the game.
鈥淚 had a situation last year where we were in the ninth and we were down by two, I want to say, and I struck out looking,鈥� . 鈥淚 challenged it. It was a ball, and I hit a home run like the next pitch or something to tie it. The game can change just like that with this, so it鈥檚 pretty cool.鈥�
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AP Baseball Writers Ronald Blum and Janie McCauley contributed.
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