Imagine stepping up to the plate, locking in on a pitch, and watching it sail outside the zone—only for the ump to call it a strike. Now, imagine that happening 20 times in one game. That’s exactly what went down in the Astros vs. Mets season opener, courtesy of Rob Drake’s rough night behind the plate. Fans are fuming, and the question looms larger than ever: How does MLB fix its umpiring crisis?

The push for an Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS)—or, as fans call it, “robot umpires”—is gaining momentum. MLB has already tested the system in the minor leagues, and reports suggest it could debut in the majors as early as next year. Much like how VAR has reshaped officiating in soccer, ABS wouldn’t completely replace human umpires but would assist them in making more accurate calls. If technology can eliminate blown calls without bias, why not embrace it?

“Umpire Rob Drake missed 20 calls in the Astros-Mets game. He’s the lowest-rated umpire of the season so far with a correct call rate of only 86.8%.” Remember Angel Hernandez? Worse than that?

Well, it seems like Rob Drake’s 20 bad calls haven’t made any difference for either the Astros or the Mets. It happened throughout the game.

The clipping shared by the Umpire Auditor X account shows that Drake is missing the strike calls. Hence, when the option for a better use of technology is available with MLB, the fans are asking for an overhaul this time. They are very vocal about how these bad calls are affecting the game quality.

Fans are rooting for a change in MLB umpiring 

Is the umpiring getting worse, or is the news of bad umpiring coming frequently lately? While this question by a fan seems logical, human errors in MLB umpiring are not something in business. For those unaware, in 2018, 34,294 inaccurate ball and strike calls were made by MLB umpires, averaging 14 per game or 1.6 per inning, according to a Boston University survey. So, yes, nothing new, but it renewed the talks of opting for a new system.

The pitching angle of -3 degrees is something difficult to catch with the human eye. Thus, the call for using technology when the probability of human error is high is well justified. While the call to bring “purity” to the game by the use of technology is justified, what will happen to the nostalgic vibe? “We’re humans. Can we just be judged by humans?” Max Scherzer questioned the ABS technology’s utility in ensuring the game’s essence. Since its inception, baseball has revolved around the umpire’s correct and incorrect rulings, which may be the fundamental spirit of the game. Purists may oppose altering this essence.

Keeping aside the issue with ABS and human umpiring, the fans just want to see accurate decisions at the end of the day. The best way to ensure accurate umpiring should be promoted, even if it involves altering the nostalgic vibe of the game for good. While the 20-blown calls by Drake were not intentional, technological help would have turned the tide here.

The blown calls by Rob Drake were not in anyone’s interest. However, fans are already calling him the successor to Angel Hernandez. Hernandez’s 2023 season was a debacle with 161 bad calls in 10 games. Drake is already been the lowest-rated umpire of this season. Let’s see what the figure will be at the end of this season.

Spring training is all about getting into shape, finding chemistry, and adjusting to the new season. But here’s a thought—why not include umpires in that mix? If players need reps to get sharp, wouldn’t it make sense for officials to do the same? Imagine a full-on umpiring boot camp, fine-tuning strike zones and ironing out inconsistencies before Opening Day. Funny? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely. Still, no amount of practice can guarantee perfection—only technology can truly minimize human error.

ABS is implemented in the minor league, and hopefully, it will be seen in the major league by next year. A better product with more accuracy could then be expected by the fans.

Do you think the traditional umpiring system should be overhauled with new technologies? Share your thoughts with us below.