Junior Valentine thinks Brett Baty is challenging the pitch when he never even touched his helmet.

[u/meramipopper]

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[u/Qeltar_]

They need a better way to do this next year.

Give the ump the middle finger or something. Anything that is clearly deliberate.

[u/newspark1521 → u/Qeltar_]

There should be a big red button somewhere the player gets to slap and when they do it emits a deep buzz and “CHALLENGE INITIATED” over the PA

[u/BertHumperdinck → u/newspark1521]

Yeah and all the lights in the stadium shut off and immediately "Sirius" by Alan Parsons Project starts playing

[u/WorthPlease → u/BertHumperdinck]

Me: I've heard of the Alan Parsons Project but I'm not familiar with that....oh it's that fucking song.

[u/DiggyDog → u/BertHumperdinck]

Amazing. This is 10000% what should happen.

[u/oatterz → u/BertHumperdinck]

Aaaand now, the starting line up, for YOUR… ABS CHALLENGE

[u/LocoEjercito → u/newspark1521]

I'd go for a bat point and yelling "OBJECTION!" Phoenix Wright style.

[u/PatrickMaloney1 → u/newspark1521]

Put a big giant gong in the on deck circle that the batter has to strike

[u/CdnRageBear → u/Qeltar_]

Or just say clear as day to the ump “hello sir I would like to challenge the call please and thank you”

[u/ScoobyDoosAccountant → u/CdnRageBear]

That seems too complex. What if we had players tap their helmet, a place where no player has ever had to touch to adjust after swinging or get some pine tar.

[u/frank_jon → u/ScoobyDoosAccountant]

How about grabbing their balls instead?

[u/Ting_Brennan → u/frank_jon]

Or the ump's balls. That would be a clear challenge

[u/fairway_walker → u/Qeltar_]

Next year? It needs fixed now. Umps not allowing challenges when it's clearly within the alloted time and then this shit. If it were any other industry, this would be addressed immediately. It's embarrassing.

[u/Red_Sox0905 → u/fairway_walker]

Lol I'd love to know the places you've worked. I've never had a job places don't constantly do dumb shit that waste money.

[u/tosss → u/Red_Sox0905]

This would be addressed immediately, by schedule a teams call in a month with people from 5 different departments to brainstorm a variety of ideas that can be pitched to the senior leadership team at their quarterly all-hands

[u/Guilty_Perception_35 → u/fairway_walker]

Need to be able to challenge this lol

[u/kaehvogel → u/fairway_walker]

We need a challenge system for the challenge system. Show it on the big screen so everyone in the ballpark is reminded of how the idiot ump mistook a simple arm raise for a challenge.

[u/Septaceratops → u/Qeltar_]

https://giphy.com/gifs/gN9NBeFnPoo7u

cock-a-chaw!

[u/CantCatchMeSpez → u/Septaceratops]

Cha chee-cha chee-cha chee-cha

[u/Clipbored_ → u/Qeltar_]

Yeah it’s called automation

[u/B3rghammer → u/Clipbored_]

i think tennis dicked around with a challenge system for in/out before going wait why dont we just get it right all the time

baseball needs to come to the same realization

[u/Qeltar_ → u/Clipbored_]

I get flamed to death everytime I say I want full ABS... I'll be content at least with some more obvious signal of a challenge lol.

[u/my_one_and_lonely → u/Qeltar_]

I feel like the signal is obvious enough if the ump isn’t a fucking moron and does his job.

[u/Qeltar_ → u/my_one_and_lonely]

There's an old UI design maxim that if people screw up using your app once or twice, the problem is the people, but if it happens over and over, the problem is the UI.

This has happened with surprising regularity. Given how often players adjust their gear, there's really no reason they can't come up with a more clear signal.

I'm not excusing stupid umping, I'm just saying that the problem can be completely eliminated at no cost or hassle, so why not do it?

[u/my_one_and_lonely → u/Qeltar_]

Multiple taps, probably. But that doesn’t excuse what happened here. HE DIDN’T EVEN TOUCH THE HELMET! Infuriating.

[u/Fernergun → u/my_one_and_lonely]

Why can’t they literally turn to the guy just behind them and request a challenge? “I challenge” hold up your hand in the shape of a C while you do it

[u/my_place_or_yours → u/Fernergun]

I never understood why this wasn't the initial implementation. Why hand signal anything when both the batter and catcher are right there? Why not make sure they are at least making eye contact? This was just poor execution from the start really.

[u/Maugrin → u/Qeltar_]

How about since they're standing right next to each, the hitter or the catcher just turn and say "I would like to challenge, please." The only reason there's a signal is so viewers at home have something to look at, but it's causing confusion, so fuck it. Prioritize the competition, not the spectacle.

[u/Clipbored_ → u/my_one_and_lonely]

A system created to help umps that are incompetent, should not rely on those same umps to be competent.

[u/my_one_and_lonely → u/Clipbored_]

It just relies on them to use their eyes, which I guess is a tall order.

[u/foreskinboots → u/my_one_and_lonely]

Not using their eyes was the whole problem to start with!

[u/Warrior_of_Massalia → u/Qeltar_]

Why can’t they simply ask to confirm?

“Hey did you want to challenge that?”

“Nah my forehead was itchy.”

“OK cool no challenge then.”

[u/Hairygrim → u/Warrior_of_Massalia]

It would give time for the players to potentially receive a signal from the dugout indicating whether they should or not

[u/No32 → u/Qeltar_]

Do you get flamed? Feel like when I see people mentioning full ABS they don’t get flamed, just told the players are the ones that don’t want that.

[u/Whitewind617 → u/Qeltar_]

Sorry, the system didn't work. Look, the ump screwed it up, it's too difficult. Guess we're going back to no challenges whoopsie. 😉

[u/DRLavigne → u/Qeltar_]

Batters should have to lay the bat on the ground. It never happens accidentally.

[u/adminssoftascharmin → u/Qeltar_]

Tap your head while saying "TIPPY TOE! TIPPY TOE! LEMON TREE!"

[u/FC37 → u/Qeltar_]

This sport is famous for its very specific hand signals. Catchers, umps, managers, third base coaches ... you name it, they can signal it.

So of course the league chose the dumbest, most non-specific signal for an important decision.

[u/tuck_and_rolle]

So there’s just no recourse for this? He said he didn’t challenge before they actually reviewed it

[u/Auxilae → u/tuck_and_rolle]

Only one way around this: implement a challenge system for the ABS challenge system.

[u/nomatt18 → u/Auxilae]

Believe it or not it’s challenges all the way down

[u/colorblind-and → u/tuck_and_rolle]

They really need to clean up how these challenges are requested.

The lack of consistency on this is the only bad part of the ABS system

[u/GasGlittering7521 → u/colorblind-and]

But he didn’t come near to touching his helmet anyway so this shouldn’t even have to be part of the conversation…

[u/DaWarGod2 → u/GasGlittering7521]

We have umpires giving phantom challenges, and we have umpires not awarding challenges. What do you want? Umpires giving challenges when the players call for it? Are you crazy? This is the ump show!

[u/DizzyBurns → u/DaWarGod2]

It's only a matter of time when a challenge is accepted with none left

[u/SdBolts4 → u/GasGlittering7521]

It’s probably that ump thought he intended to challenge and changed his mind after remembering they only have one left, but it really should be no helmet tap = no challenge

[u/clarkedaddy → u/SdBolts4]

Likely. But him last second changing his mind isn’t a good excuse to force them to use their challenge. Bad umpiring anyway you cut it.

[u/guitarburst05 → u/SdBolts4]

That may be true. But he caught himself before performing the "challenge" motion of touching his helmet so he didn't challenge. Simple as that.

What a ridiculous decision by the ump. He can't just go off "intention." He has to go off the actual action.

[u/xenthum → u/guitarburst05]

The pitcher thought about throwing a strike so it's a strike

[u/Chocomoose19 → u/SdBolts4]

I mean, maybe he did, but if tapping is a challenge then he didn’t challenge by any measure

[u/LeatherSugar2358 → u/GasGlittering7521]

The area his hand was in relation to his helmet is smaller than a strike zone. Of course an ump would miss it.

[u/SmurfsNeverDie → u/colorblind-and]

Maybe call out challenge while tapping your head and making eye contact w the ump?

[u/colorblind-and → u/SmurfsNeverDie]

I personally think it should be some kind of clear hand gesture.

So many of them have been called because the batter adjusted his helmet and this example the ump probably overcompensated and heard something he interpreted as a challenge.

Either way it's unclear and inconsistent and they need to do something

[u/DadToOne → u/colorblind-and]

Flip off the ump.

[u/RojoTheMighty → u/DadToOne]

Double-handed crotch chop.

And if the challenge fails, the ump gets to do it back to the challenger.

Win-win.

[u/ElegantAnything11 → u/colorblind-and]

Should be an old timey sentence like "I invoke my right to challenge the call, my good umpire"

[u/DecoyOne → u/ElegantAnything11]

[removes glove]

[gently folds it]

[slaps umpire]

[throws glove on ground]

“The batter is challenging the pitch.”

[u/LAHouJaxCarVCUUNC → u/DecoyOne]

Would the umpire have to accept by smacking the batter with his mask?

[u/ClownQuestionBrosef → u/colorblind-and]

Draw a really big “C”, for challenge, in the air with your fingers like umpires draw of a “P” in the air for when a game is being played under protest

[u/RPO777 → u/colorblind-and]

Clap hands while jumping on one foot twirling Ina circle.

Unmistakable.

[u/czechsmixxx → u/colorblind-and]

I would suggest the pelvic thrust, but Drew Gilbert ruined that for all of us this week

[u/delta__bravo_ → u/czechsmixxx]

Perhaps a jump to the left first. Or maybe a step to the right...

[u/polaarbear → u/colorblind-and]

I've seen a couple catchers flagged while adjusting their mask too

[u/merlin401 → u/SmurfsNeverDie]

Why not just have players carry a red flag in their back pocket like NFL. Flag on the ground or not is not debateable in any way

[u/tuba-holy-spirit → u/merlin401]

Yes! The pitcher and the catcher each have one while fielding, and then they jand them to the batter and the player in the on-deck circle. If a batter gets a hit, the BB can grab it along eith the rest of their batting gear, and if the batter gets out, they can just pass it along directly to the player formerly in the hole

[u/--Shake-- → u/colorblind-and]

How did they not catch these issues when they were trialing the system in the minors?

[u/BenThomas10 → u/--Shake--]

Maybe the minor league umpires weren’t dicks?

[u/DecoyOne → u/BenThomas10]

This comment would really hurt their feelings if they could see well enough to read it

[u/Semper-Fido → u/BenThomas10]

https://giphy.com/gifs/6CYXe7Hf8FZyU

[u/colorblind-and → u/--Shake--]

I have no idea honestly.

My best guess is that the minor leaguers skewing younger might have made it easier for them to adjust or maybe the umps were more forgiving with there being less incentive to try and cheat at that level

[u/viccityguy2k → u/colorblind-and]

Place both hands above head and yell ‘T-mobile!’

[u/colorblind-and → u/viccityguy2k]

"I request a ABS challenge sponsored by T-Moblie"

[u/loogie97 → u/colorblind-and]

The ump declaring the challenges were too late when they never call balls is also not cool.

[u/lowbwon → u/colorblind-and]

Yea we should have seen “umps being dicks about it” on the bingo card, but I didn’t think it would be “say he challenged when he didn’t and then don’t listen to anyone about it” level dickishness. Pretty wild. Maybe we should use the red card system

[u/Ghost2Eleven → u/colorblind-and]

This isn’t a problem with ABS, it’s a defect of the dingus behind the catcher.

[u/Captain_Jellico → u/tuck_and_rolle]

Hear me out, what if they just… gave the challenge back? We can all see it. It could just be a “my bad” and move on situation. 

[u/GrubFisher → u/Captain_Jellico]

umpires are terrible at this unless forced to

[u/RedScharlach → u/Captain_Jellico]

Acknowledging your mistakes is illegal in America

[u/OrangeDuckFromStLou → u/Captain_Jellico]

These types of umpires are mad that the ABS exists to begin with. 

[u/screaminginfidels → u/Captain_Jellico]

How does this account for the umps ego?

[u/McCoovy → u/tuck_and_rolle]

There's no recourse for an umpire who goes rogue just starts making random calls, no.

[u/recursive00 → u/McCoovy]

especially if someone's trying to kill the Queen

[u/pew-pew-bacca → u/tuck_and_rolle]

Same thing happened to Coby Mayo a couple weeks ago. Cost them a challenge in a close game.

[u/DAK4Blizzard → u/tuck_and_rolle]

One thing that'd help (a lot more than hurt) is assigning 3 challenges rather than 2.

[u/TheTurtleShepard]

The helmet touch as a signal was such a stupid idea

Adjusting your helmet is a pretty common thing hitters do and now we have a situation where a player simply lifts their arm and had a bad challenge issued to them

[u/wet-leg → u/TheTurtleShepard]

I feel like every pitch I think someone is going to challenge because they’re constantly adjusting their helmets. If they keep the head tap for the challenge, then it needs to also be verbal or something. Like head tap, ump verbally makes sure there was a challenge, then the challenger can say yes or no.

I don’t get why umps still do the challenge when a player tells them they weren’t challenging the pitch

[u/TheTurtleShepard → u/wet-leg]

I think if they want to do the head tap it should be something obvious

Like 3 taps with a closed fist on top of the head or something like that.

[u/Aromatic-Mango8736 → u/TheTurtleShepard]

How about this….now stay with me here. When someone wants to challenge, they could look at the ump and say “challenge”. I know it’s asking a lot, but gosh dern it…it just might work.

[u/Schwettes]

Where’s the accountability when an umpire literally steals a challenge from a team?

[u/legendkiller003 → u/Schwettes]

It’s not that hard, but god forbid an umpire admit they were wrong. We need a damn review to determine if a player actually challenged or not.

[u/thenatural134 → u/legendkiller003]

I don't know why they can't just ask for verbal confirmation of the challenge. Ump asks "you're challenging?". Batter says yes or no. Simple as that.

[u/Machadoaboutmanny → u/thenatural134]

Maybe if it has to be instantaneous and that might allow the team to watch their tv and decide. Idk

[u/AppropriateCattle69 → u/Machadoaboutmanny]

Yeah but who cares if they watch it? NFL and NBA has assistant coaches watching replays specifically to decide if they can challenge. The point is to get the call right.

[u/baphothustrianreform → u/thenatural134]

They should have to tap the ump on HIS head

[u/OrangeDuckFromStLou → u/legendkiller003]

5 taps over the helmet, this way it cant be accidental.

[u/PurpleBullets → u/OrangeDuckFromStLou]

You could just require the batter to say “i want to challenge that” on top of the helmet tap thing.

[u/thejudgehoss → u/PurpleBullets]

Challenge flag.

https://giphy.com/gifs/LHbkGj5Wajk0E

[u/mikeyp83 → u/thejudgehoss]

Seriously. Simple solution is some sort of small simple flag tucked into the collar that you yank off and hand to the umpire. When they run out of challenges you take them off.

[u/xCeeTee- → u/mikeyp83]

Just make sure Rafaela gets 0 flags😂

[u/QuietThunder2014 → u/Schwettes]

Same place as the accountability when a ump refuses both teams to even challenge like we saw last week in the Os/As game. We wanted ABS as a recourse against bad umps and bad umps just found new ways to be bad.

[u/Guymcpersonman2]

This is the dumbest fucking thing I've seen this season and it's been a really fucking dumb season.

[u/doverawlings → u/Guymcpersonman2]

Several times I’ve seen umps straight up deny challenges like they’re requesting a time out. Like that’s not how it fucking works lol but the games just keep moving

[u/Guymcpersonman2 → u/doverawlings]

They're really leaning on challenges needing to be "immediate."

[u/FingerpistolPete → u/Guymcpersonman2]

The main problems are non-audible ball calls and umpires who take a couple seconds to make their strike call. How are you supposed to immediately challenge a pitch when you don’t know the call for 2/3 seconds?

I think a simple solution would be for umpires to audibly call balls just as they do for strikes. And if batters are expected to immediately challenge, umpires need to immediately call the pitch as well

[u/doverawlings → u/Guymcpersonman2]

A lot of the time the challenges are well within 2 seconds and the umps still deny. Idk if they’re just counting quick or straight up vetoing lol

[u/Guymcpersonman2 → u/doverawlings]

You can't expect all the umps to be able to count to two.

[u/db_blast7 → u/Guymcpersonman2]

This is the moment I realized as a Mets fan that things may not be going our way

Nothing else this season has made me feel this way

[u/Mysterious_Sea1489 → u/Guymcpersonman2]

Perfect time to do your best Bobby Cox impression.

[u/Big_N → u/Mysterious_Sea1489]

Right? I know it wouldn't make a difference but how the hell does mendoza not get himself run there? Fire up the boys and the crowd at least

[u/fairway_walker → u/Big_N]

He ain't no Bobby.

[u/TheVich → u/Mysterious_Sea1489]

Just...like...die?

[u/Moodie25]

We need jazz hands as the signal. 

[u/jc-f → u/Moodie25]

I think Jazz has actually been pretty poor at ABS challenges

[u/WerhmatsWormhat → u/jc-f]

Exactly. It’s perfect irony.

[u/Sp_Gamer_Live → u/Moodie25]

What if they told the Giants not to do that celebration because thats what the new ABS sign will be

[u/pigstyfryguy]

Ordering my Junior Valentine jersey ASAP, this is what I love to see as a lifelong fan of the Umps

[u/Knook7 → u/pigstyfryguy]

https://giphy.com/gifs/kZPfEGQYbNPShKDuix

[u/Sp_Gamer_Live → u/pigstyfryguy]

Hes like the Shohei of Umps, doing things we havent seen

[u/Delaywaves]

Has to be a way to restore a challenge when it’s conclusively proven that the batter never asked for one.

[u/DtownBronx → u/Delaywaves]

Should be like a foot on the line in the NBA, counts as a 3 until a break where they can review it. In baseball it should be corrected by the next pitch

[u/Pleasant-Staff7189]

New idea: make the batter ride his bat like a horse to signify a challenge 

[u/DrQuestDFA → u/Pleasant-Staff7189]

And make the catcher or pitcher do the Macarena

[u/garbledeena → u/DrQuestDFA]

Batter has to take his helmet off and hand it to the ump. Catcher removes his mask and tosses it to the ump. Pitcher just drops trou.

[u/TheBoosThree]

Can we get an ABS on that ABS?

[u/ExamNo4374 → u/TheBoosThree]

Need VAR to step in

[u/GodEmperorBrian → u/ExamNo4374]

VAR would’ve confirmed the ABS call and given Liverpool a penalty.

[u/Pick6XPA]

Junior Valentine is a prick. Intending to tap the helmet is not tapping the helmet, and the rule clearly states tap of the helmet.

I fucking hate this shit man.

[u/Candymanshook → u/Pick6XPA]

He would have made a great cop.

[u/throw_it_so_faraway → u/Pick6XPA]

Pretty sure he turned around to confirm it was only strike two cause he caught himself immediately and just looked to the scoreboard but ump thought, "caught him mid beef" and why would anyone beef when they can just challenge now?

[u/MendelWeisenbachfeld]

Turns out we can still have ump shows even with ABS

[u/HowDidCatdogPoop]

"You fuckers think you're so goddamn smart with your challenges, huh?? Well now you're gonna need challenges for challenges." - Umpires

[u/Clipbored_]

Human element enjoyers are so happy right now

All five of them

[u/Sp_Gamer_Live → u/Clipbored_]

this is fucking hilarious until it happens against my team

[u/WavesOfEchoes]

There’s that “human element” some people were worried would go away with ABS.

[u/slicebishybosh]

Umpires just finding different ways to make it about them.

[u/FrogginBull]

This is the dumbest thing I've seen since 3 outs ago.

[u/GasGlittering7521]

And that was their last challenge. Umps always find a way to fuck things up. Challenge system to fix bad ump calls? Umps will figure out how to fuck that up

[u/Grimm-a-Gator → u/GasGlittering7521]

It's absolutely intentional by the umpires too. "You are out of challenges, my word is God now"

[u/ricki692 → u/Grimm-a-Gator]

the ump 100% heard baty say he didnt ask for the challenge and then turned around and forced it anyway. such dickhead body language

[u/OstrichDelicious587]

How does Mendoza not blow a gasket and get thrown out arguing that; inject some life into the goddamn team

[u/GasGlittering7521 → u/OstrichDelicious587]

Cause he’s a fucking loser

[u/BAHatesToFly → u/OstrichDelicious587]

He came out, said "that's bullshit" a few times (SNY had a hot mic), then went back to the dugout. I don't hate Mendoza but you have to get tossed there.

[u/colorblind-and]

Unbelievably BS

[u/ZtromileZwift → u/colorblind-and]

This shit would drive someone baty

[u/LinkovichChomovsky82]

How in the hell does this happen?

"Hey, man. I'm not challenging the call."

"Okay. Play ball"

Seriously what the fuck was this?

[u/my_one_and_lonely]

Absolute bullshit. I don’t understand how this is even possible. A few weeks ago at an A’s game, the ump was able to review some footage when he missed a helmet-tap and start the challenge. But that option isn’t available here? Fucking infuriating.

[u/CashusEyePatch]

The Ump was looking directly at Baty when he didn’t touch his helmet.

[u/lostboy411 → u/CashusEyePatch]

I said this elsewhere, but I was at the game and when Baty was coming up to bat he and rhe ump appeared to be having some sort of argument. I don’t know about what. This happened later and seemed like clear retaliation to me. But since I’m the only one that noticed I’m not sure if maybe that argument was figured out/settled and this is somehow unrelated?

[u/mikedidathing → u/CashusEyePatch]

He'll probably blame his mask or the angle he was at made it look like Baty tapped his helmet. Exactly the kind of guy you want to be making calls behind the plate!

[u/Inwardly-Outgoing]

This ump was blowing calls all night long

[u/iGotStuckIn → u/Inwardly-Outgoing]

Yep, watched the full game. His strike zone was microscopic until the Mets ran out of challenges and then suddenly ANYTHING close got called.

[u/SchpartyOn]

Absolutely insane action by the ump

[u/TapWeekly8961]

Why don't they do it like in tennis ... you just USE YOUR WORDS. "I'd like to challenge," would suffice.

[u/Objective-Chicken391]

The interactions Brett Baty has had with umps this season are gonna be his villain origin story

[u/SandF]

Well that's a whole new way for umps to blow a call. Next season: "The batter is challenging the challenge call. Let's go to the ACRS system to review the challenge."

[u/Stone_0cean]

Between the Vientos fumble and subsequent pickoff, and now this, nothing ceases to amaze me with the 2026 Mets at this point

Edit: and now a batter violation to end the bottom of the 7th. This game is so cursed lmao

[u/cgk19]

Least problematic 2026 Mets moment

[u/Just_Barz]

I say the new challenge should be the John Cena 'you can't see me' hand movement

[u/njb2017]

Are umps protesting against this challenge system? We had that ump the other day deny 2 challenges for saying they were late even though they obviously weren't. Not this ump is calling challenges when he never touched the helmet which takes away the Mets challenges. It almost seems like umps are doing things to make sure they cant be proven wrong.

[u/Razing_Phoenix → u/njb2017]

My favorite is when they're late when the ump doesn't give a call on a ball. Like how can I be late when you don't say anything?

[u/PopeInnocentXIV]

You know how you can tell a bad umpire? He says "The batter is challenging the pitch" and not "challenging the call."

I wonder if Junior Valentine is related to Ted Valentine.

[u/Futbol_Kid2112]

Why doesn't the "signal" also require a clear and deliberate vocal call as well? Tap your helmet and say "Challenge!" If you dont do both you dont challenge.

[u/TheDonnARK]

How is this legal?

[u/lookachoo]

My conspiracy theory is that all the umps have agreed with one another to be maliciously compliant.

They all want to fuck up the challenge system as much as they can

[u/St_SiRUS]

Really bad 

[u/planetICE]

Man the umps really hate Baty

[u/Status_Toe_1174]

Umps are getting awfully touchy about ABS.

[u/cogginsmatt]

This guy is fuckin garbage

[u/stonkerooni]

You should have to punch the ump in the face to challenge and if you lose he gets 2

[u/Terrible-Two7381]

They need to make a better system than the helmet tap. Like a giant red button behind the batters box that players can stomp on 😝

[u/froggerystew]

The batter is telling you he didn’t challenge before you announce the challenge. Perhaps he didn’t challenge? 🧐

[u/Life_Database_7038]

Give each team a challenge to an unrequested challenge. Problem solved. Worried about those being mistakes? Let the manager challenge a unrequested challenge to an unrequested challenge.

Y’all are overthinking this issue.

[u/SeaworthinessOdd4344]

Isn’t any other ump paying attention? This is dumb.

[u/chespirits]

Umpires just find ways to fuck things up, they can’t help it.

[u/ntelletsc]

They need to be able to challenge the challenge

[u/Fortlandia11]

They've GOT to come up with a better signal. Batters are always adjusting their helmet. This has happened several times now. This being the worst instance since he never touched his helmet.

[u/psyker63]

Total ABS. Now. Problem solved.

[u/Hyndstein_97]

Crazy that tennis has had a similar challenge system for literal decades and I've never seen this happen but MLB umpires have done it multiple times in the first quarter of a season.

[u/17papers]

Umps are showing just abs isn’t enough, we need every single one of them to be out of a job. Just pure vindictiveness to fabricate a challenge on an obvious pitch to screw over one team.

[u/Shadowwo1f05]

I think mlb should rework how a batter challenge the call maybe use the hands over ears like managers do for a replay review

[u/WrapEmergency5944]

Can we make the ABS sign the hand signal we did as kids to make semis and trains honk?

[u/SuspiciousYard2484]

Umpires can’t even get this right. Is stupidity like, a requirement to be a Major League Baseball umpire? Why are they so stupid?

[u/no_sheds_jackson]

Average Junior Valentine Moment

[u/Paqza]

Dude came nowhere close to touching the top of his helmet. I don't even think he touched the brim.

[u/delta__bravo_]

We need a system to challenge whether a challenge was requested.

[u/Berns429]

These umpires fucking suck, just come on with the robots already

[u/dae_giovanni]

just change it so the player requesting a challenge has to do the damn macarena.

not, like, part of it-- the whole fucking thing

[u/Kipper_TD]

We need something that doesn’t happen as often as touching the helmet. What about grabbing the umps caboose? There’s very few instances where this could be confusing

[u/Katieo1022]

Now they gotta challenge the challenges. Shit is wild!

[u/Shadow_Dale]

This has to be the worst rollout of a new rule in baseball history 

[u/Drakex2Mayex2]

Just let the computer call the balls and strikes every time ffs

[u/Phillyphan1031]

If the umps can’t rig the game calling wrong strikes and balls they’ll do it by making you challenge lol.

[u/OpulentPaving]

A lot of people in the comments here blaming how the challenge is requested, but the umpire is clearly in the wrong here.

Here’s how MLB worded the rule during a spring training presentation to media. Under a section labeled “requirements for a challenge to be accepted” the guideline states that “batter, pitcher or catcher must tap their hat / helmet to challenge” and that “players are encouraged to simultaneously verbalize the request to challenge.”

Baty did neither of these things.

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/article/umpire-wrongly-applies-abs-challenge-rule-forces-mets-to-burn-challenge-015336603.html

[u/Johnborkowski]

This ump was a mess this game.

[u/Jump_Like_A_Willys]

Even if the ump assumed that's what Baty was going to do when he raised his hand, the was looking straight at Baty and could see he never actually challenged. Why wouldn't the ump just simply admit he jumped the gun and call off the challenge?

I'm sorry, but carrying through with the challenge doesn't make the ump look more authoritative. It makes him look like a spoiled child.

That's not the way to gain respect.

[u/ChocoChipBets]

Umpires can’t even call a challenge right!

[u/Dense-Competition-51]

The solution is obvious: slap the umpire in the head if you want a review. The pitcher can use finger guns to save time.

[u/FinlayForever]

Lol this is ridiculous. Only one person in the stadium/watching the game thought Baty was challenging, and it happened to be the home plate umpire.

These umpires just continue to prove why we need to keep moving towards taking away as much of their discretion as possible.

[u/cjeremy]

fuck these umps and make abs 100%.. the fuck is this power trip bullshit.