Former MLB catcher comes down hard on ABS system for ruining pitch-framing practice: "Let the robots take over"

To be a successful catcher in the MLB, being able to pitch-frame is a skill that can quite literally set the men apart from the boys. However, this age-old practice has recently come under threat from new technology.

Pitch framing is the subtle motion that a catcher makes with his hand and wrist when receiving a pitched ball. When executed correctly, pitch-framing can expand the strike zone and allow borderline pitches to appear as though they were strikes.

Back in early 2019, the MLB announced that they were exploring an Automated Ball/Strike System (ABS). ABS is a cutting-edge technology that would be able to automatically communicate whether or not the pitch was a strike to the umpire.

In a recent piece for Sports Illustrated, writer Emma Baccellieri caught up with some influential MLB catchers. She wanted to see how they felt about having to possibly use ABS in MLB games in the future.

"Happy Hawk-Eye day at Innovative Field! These new cameras you’ll see around the ballpark are what will power the new Automatic Ball Strike system…also known as Robo-Umps. Today, the multi-camera system was calibrated." - Morrie Silver

The potential rollout of the ABS system has got some catchers worried. Jose Trevino of the New York Yankees stated that he is more concerned about his pitchers being thrown off by the system than he is of the umpire botching a call.

Perhaps the most prescient observation came from retired catcher Jeff Mathis, who stated about the potential introduction of the ABS system:

"Just catch it; put yourself in position to block or possibly throw, and let the robots take over."

Mathis spent 17 years in the big-leagues, most notably for the Los Angeles Angels. He appeared in 948 games, catching hundreds of thousands of pitches before retiring as a member of the Atlanta Braves in 2021.

MLB fans may not have the appetite for the ABS just yet

The ABS system is being touted as something that undermines pitch-framing. Catchers everywhere will likely not be in any great rush to see the new technology put forward.

After the MLB rolled out measures like the pitch clock this season, appetite among fans for further changes is limited. Observers say the pitch clock is doing enough to hamper the natural rhythm of the game. With that in mind, the league will definitely have trouble convincing fans that the ARS system should be enacted as soon as possible.