Joey Bart has noticed from behind the plate that the strike zone is different for every hitter because of the use of the automated ball-strike system in Grapefruit League games.
The Pittsburgh Pirates catcher is still adjusting to how the challenge system on calls could affect the outcome of at-bats but showed an awareness by taking advantage against the Baltimore Orioles.
“I’ve been fairly good at it in the past. This spring, I’ve second-guessed myself on it just because the pitches that are typically strikes aren’t,” Bart told TribLive last week. “The system itself leaves the umpires out to hang, and I don’t really care for that, to be honest with you. Those dudes have a really hard job, and they’re kind of getting scrutinized for it. Hopefully, everyone can acclimate to the system so it’s easier for us and it’s easier for them.”
That didn’t stop Bart from challenging a call Tuesday in Sarasota, Fla. After Noah Davis gave up a three-run home run to Taylor Ward, minor league pitcher Tyrone Yulie replaced him with two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning. Yulie’s 1-2 changeup to Adley Rutschman was called a ball by home plate umpire Ben May, but Bart challenged the call.
The pitch appeared low and inside. Upon video review, a graphic showed that the ball barely touched the lower left corner of the strike zone and was changed to give Yulie an inning-ending strikeout. It was one of two ABS challenges won by the Pirates, as Ryan O’Hearn had a strike changed to a ball in the third inning.
The Pirates were involved in one of the most infamous ABS moments of spring training against the Boston Red Sox on Feb. 25 in Fort Meyers, when Triple-A umpire Mitch Trzciak had five consecutive calls overturned. Endy Rodriguez was catching Carmen Mlodzinski and Thomas Harrington that game, when three calls went the Pirates’ way.
That brings up an issue with the ABS system, which will be implemented in MLB regular season games: There is a human element to be considered, as umpires can be publicly embarrassed every time a challenge goes against them.
“That’s something I hadn’t really thought of,” Bart said. “It’s tough for them when they get called out in front of the whole stadium on a call. Hopefully, everyone doesn’t get too emotional with it. None of it is obviously personal. It’s just us trying to have the best feel and him trying to have the best feel. Obviously, that’s not always going to line up every day.”
Bart believes the ABS system is going to take away the stealing of strikes by catchers who excel in framing pitches. That could level the playing field for defensive-minded backstops.
“I think it’s going to change the game. I really do,” Bart said. “I think it’s going to take catchers, from the bottom of the barrel receivers to the top of the barrel, it’s going to tighten them down, mainly because of those 0-5% that you get or miss. It can kind of make or break your day. If you can catch all the balls that are in the zone and catch one of those balls that are way down or way up and get it called, you’re going to have a good day. But they’re going to take those pitches away. … It’s almost like everyone is the same. It’s almost how good are you at the challenge system.”
Pirates ace Paul Skenes, the National League Cy Young Award winner, allowed four walks in 2 1/3 innings against the Atlanta Braves in his only Grapefruit League start before leaving to join Team USA in the World Baseball Classic. Skenes threw 27 of his 53 pitches for strikes but had four calls overturned by ABS system challenges.
“I’ve got to be tighter, basically, with everything,” Skenes said, with a shrug. “Obviously, you’ve got to throw the ball in the strike zone to get them out. Challenge system or not, I didn’t do a very good job of that today. But we’ll adjust. Time will tell.”
Bart recalled how, when catching for the San Francisco Giants early in his career, he could set up in the opposite batter’s box when catching Logan Webb and Alex Cobb “and they could throw a sinker and run it all the way back, it was a ball and a half off.”
“I don’t think you’re going to get those egregious calls that some guys have mastered, whether it’s the catcher setting up in a certain spot and getting that call,” Bart said. “I was getting the call every time. That’s going to go away. I think it’s really going to hurt the nibblers, the guys that live on the edges. It’s really going to hurt those guys.”
That shouldn’t affect pitchers like Skenes, although it might reduce the number of strike-to-ball pitches he throws with the intention of getting hitters to chase outside the strike zone.
“I wouldn’t worry about him,” Bart said. “It’s the lower-velocity, crafty guys. At the same, this is going to change when the season starts. The zone right now is really tight. Getting feedback from umpires, once the season starts, it’s going to expand out a little bit.”
