26-02-2025
Umpire Mike Muchlinski hilariously made fun of himself after the Padres' failed ball-strike challenge
Umpire Mike Muchlinski hilariously made fun of himself after the Padres' failed ball-strike challenge
While MLB's ABS challenge system (automated balls and strikes) is still in the testing phase this spring training, we're already seeing how umpires respond to the system on the field.
And credit to umpire Mike Muchlinski. He's having fun with the newfound accountability.
During Tuesday's Cactus League game between the Padres and Angels, Muchlinski had already seen several of his calls overturned in the ballgame through the ABS challenge system. So, when Padres catcher Brett Sullivan tapped his helmet for another challenge after a pitch from Omar Cruz, Muchlinski was already preparing himself for the overturn.
That was when we got a great reaction from the home plate umpire.
As the videoboard showed that his ball call was correct, Muchlinski made the announcement as, "The call is surprisingly correct."
Well played, Mike.
Thus far, the system has been a much-needed (and successful) addition to big-league games. As of now, though, we won't see ABS in regular season games until 2026 at the earliest.
