Check Swing Challenge

[CardsofSTL]

MLB has been actively testing a Check Swing Challenge system in the minor leagues, similar to the ABS strike/ball challenge system currently in place in the major leagues.

The system, which was first tested in the Arizona Fall League last year, is designed to provide a definition of what constitutes an actual swing considering that none exists in The Official Baseball Rules beyond a pitch that “is struck at by the batter.” A swing or no-swing is left to the discretion of the home-plate umpire, who can ask for help from the first- or third-base umps.

Using the same Hawk-Eye system as ABS, a swing will be called when the head of the bat moves ahead of its knob by more than 45 degrees. Anything less than that will be considered a non-swing. For a clearer visual, the baselines both extend at 45-degree angles from home to first and third.

The system is currently being tested in the Florida State League (A ball) and the Pacific Coast League (AAA).

In A ball teams are given 1 challenge per game; in AAA they have been given 2 challenges. They are just like ABS challenges; if they are correct they are retained.

The challenge system is very similar to the current ABS system:

The Process: Either the batter, pitcher, or catcher can initiate the challenge.

The Technology: The Hawk-Eye tracking system analyzes the exact angle of the bat head.

The Display: The definitive reading is displayed on the stadium video board in a matter of seconds, and the field umpire's initial call is updated if the technology proves otherwise.

[GeddyWrox]

WAIT A GOTTDANG MINUTE.

I thought it was a swing if the barrel passes the front edge of the plate. He went way past the front edge, but it was "no swing"????

[ghostrunner]

Well, i was confused too, but I'll be damned:

This article is actually from 2024, and talks about the rule and this system

https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-testing-ch ... all-league

What is a check swing?

There is no definition for “check swing” in the Official Baseball Rules. The closest thing comes in the Definition of Terms where the first example of a strike is a pitch that “is struck at by the batter.” It’s up to the umpire to decide what “struck at” means. Rule 8.02(c) gets into how managers and catchers can ask for umpire help on “half swing” calls but does not expand from there.

So how would this change?

Under the Check Swing Challenge system, managers and catchers still ask for appeals, and umpires still make an initial call on the field. If players disagree, they can challenge the check-swing call to Hawk-Eye, bringing a replay to the in-stadium video board.

The check swing is called an official swing (and therefore a strike) if the review reveals that the bat exceeds a 45-degree threshold from home plate. Want an easier way to visualize that? The foul line is a 45-degree angle from home. If a right-handed batter swings beyond the first-base line, it’s a strike. If a left-handed batter swings beyond the third-base line, it’s a strike.

Honestly it never made sense to me that a base ump would be asked to tell whether it broke the plane of the plate. Always seemed to rely too much on depth perception which is not something people are often very good at.

To me this is one ought to just be called by the system immediately without worrying about the ump. I think ABS has worked out really well but I'm wary of adding more stoppages even if they're very short.

[cardsfantx]

why are we even doing all this? can't the umps just wear an earpiece like pitch com and just get the balls/strikes/checked swings sent to them as they happen and then make the call?

[Joe Shlabotnik]

why are we even doing all this? can't the umps just wear an earpiece like pitch com and just get the balls/strikes/checked swings sent to them as they happen and then make the call?

Probably headed there once everyone is comfortable with the computers. It would save a lot of time.

[TGantz]

[TGantz]

WAIT A GOTTDANG MINUTE.

I thought it was a swing if the barrel passes the front edge of the plate. He went way past the front edge, but it was "no swing"????

It seems to have changed this season. Never in my life has it been anything but "no crossing the front part of the plate." Thousands of baseball games watched. Not once had I seen this 45° rule and this year I've heard about it like 5 times as if it has always been that way.

I get that it's easier for the base umpire to judge whether he was past the point of being perpendicular to the knob of the bat, but crossing the plate is a swing.

Major rules are being changed nonchalantly. The new strike zone system doesn't seem to account for the depth of the plate, which I feel like I remember was a major part of pitching. Am I wrong that the back of home plate came into play, especially for breaking stuff? Now it's more of a 2D target.

[CardsofSTL]

[ghostrunner]

But it sounds like some umps would also go by how their wrists broke, which could easily not be aligned with "front of the plate". It's crazy to me that you could have called batters out this whole time without actually having a definition in the rule book. I just always assumed it was there.

They did change the zone to just be 2D instead of front to back, but honestly that makes way more sense to be. Supposedly they tried using the whole plate but it felt off to the players. And really if you're giving umps that much of the plate to go by you're going to have wild variances. Some using the whole plate, some picking the front, some the back, etc...

I'm fine with changing the zone, but it does seem to me the system could very easily define it as front of the plate. If anything 45 degress feels like a concession in the direction of base umps because that would have been their viewing angle. I don't really care though as long as it's consistent.

[CardsofSTL]

I kind of don't even want this. Are we trying to not have fiery manager ejections anymore?