robot umpires

Major League Baseball is seeing average game times increase following the introduction of its automated ball-strike system, in which electronic umpires call balls and strikes. The rise runs counter to the league's recent push to speed up games through the pitch clock and other rule changes, prompting debate among fans, players and analysts about whether the technology is slowing play or altering pitcher behaviour.

Average Major League Baseball game times are rising again, and ESPN reports that the introduction of the automated ball-strike system, known as robot umpires, is one contributing factor. The challenge system, in which players request reviews of calls, adds stoppages to games. The trend comes despite the pitch clock that had previously shortened games to record lows, prompting renewed debate about pace of play.

MLB.com has highlighted the biggest storylines around the automated ball-strike system in the Wild Card Series, the opening round of the baseball postseason. The piece spotlines how the ABS challenge system is being used in playoff games for the first time and which calls or controversies stood out. Fans are watching closely to see how robot umpires affect high-stakes October baseball.