Former NL MVP doesn't want 'robot umps' in majors

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich, the 2018 NL MVP, isn't a fan of an automated system to call balls and strikes, the next big change on the MLB horizon.

During a recent appearance on Barstool Sports' "Pardon My Take," Yelich explained why and noted the potential implications that may result.

"I don't want robot umps," he told hosts Dan "Big Cat" Katz and PFT Commenter. "I think there's going to be a lot of unintended consequences with that." 

"Robot umpires" aren't actually robots, and they wouldn't result in real umpires losing their jobs. Instead, it's an automated system that signals whether a pitch is a strike or a ball to an umpire by the Hawk-Eye tracking system. 

Yelich fears that pitchers could manipulate an automated strike zone by placing pitches that would typically be balls to locations where the system would consider them strikes. To combat this, Yelich suggests that MLB strive to make the automated ball-strike system more hitter-friendly by adjusting the dimensions of the strike zone. 

"If you just have a square that buzzes ball or strike, then you could have a guy that sets up on one side of the plate," said Yelich. "Then this dude yanks a 100 mph fastball all the way across the other side of the plate with the catcher diving, and it nicks the box; that’ll be a strike."

"There's a lot of curveballs or breaking balls that will be in the dirt that'll clip the bottom of the strike zone, technically," he added. "They'd have to figure out a better way [to create a more realistic strike zone]."

MLB has adopted several rule changes in recent seasons, including a pitch clock, and "robot umpires" are on the way. In June, commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN's Don Van Natta Jr. the system "will likely be introduced [to the majors] in 2024." 

However, Buster Olney of ESPN reported in December that there is "no firm date to implement" the system in MLB play. Although that may be the case, MLB has tested the system for years, indicating it'll unveil it sooner rather than later.

The Arizona Fall League began using the Hawk-eye ABS in 2019. The system reached Single-A in 2021 and the Triple-A Pacific Coast League last season. According to Olney, all 30 Triple-A teams will use the ABS this season, though there's an exciting twist. 

Half the teams will use the traditional ABS, while the other half will use a challenge system. The plate umpire would call balls and strikes, and pitchers and hitters could challenge a call. 

Before implementing it in the majors, the league will evaluate its effectiveness this season.

While the challenge system might have some entertainment value, it could also extend the length of games, something the league has taken drastic measures to reduce. The ABS has drawbacks, as Yelich pointed out. The public and some players haven't shown much appreciation for recent rule changes, and the backlash will persist if "robot umps" are implemented.