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By Drew VonScio
Contributing Sports Writer
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It took exactly one game for baseball fans to ask why the World Baseball Classic doesn't have the ABS challenge system. Well, maybe not even one game, more like half of a game.
Australia and Chinese Taipei kicked off pool play Wednesday night in the United States, and it quickly became apparent that the umpire's strike zone was very inconsistent and questionable at best. It's safe to say any arguments about keeping baseball "traditional" have gone out the window at this point.
"This WBC umpire is calling balls and strikes at a 50% rate this is pretty wild," Talkin' Jake wrote on X Wednesday night.
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This post to X is one of many that fans were unsure of how it was called the way it was on the field.
Other content creators and social media influencers chimed in and voiced their concerns, citing the global stage being even more reason why the ABS system should be used.
"We can have the ABS system in the minors for the past 5 years, have it in spring training for the last 2 years, but we can’t have it for the World Baseball Classic on a global stage??" DraftKings social marketer Jordan Moore asked on X.
As easy as it is to say that umpires are human and mistakes happen, they shouldn't continue to happen when the technology is available to correct the issue. Not have the ABS system in play even for pool games is a major flaw. Not having it for elimination games is even more of an issue.
FIFA went through a very similar situation in 2018 leading up to the World Cup in Russia. VAR made its debut, and the world's biggest tournament never looked back. While the World Baseball Classic may not be on the same level as the World Cup, that doesn't mean technology shouldn't be used.
Expect umpire strike zones to continue to be a talking point throughout the tournament, and watch how much teams push for ABS before the next World Baseball Classic.
More MLB: Former Dodgers Pitcher Clayton Kershaw Has WBC Role Defined After USA Debut
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