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Padres' Manny Machado 'Done' With ABS Challenges
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Padres' Manny Machado 'Done' With ABS Challenges

San Diego Padres On SI·J.P. Hoornstra·about 1 month ago
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When Major League Baseball introduced the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System for the 2026 season, the assignment was straightforward if not intuitive. For all hitters, the top end of their strike zone will be 53.5% of their measured height. The bottom would be 27% of that height. The width of the plate provided the width of the zone. Manny Machado didn't get the assignment. At the very least, the San Diego Padres' third baseman isn't convinced that the cost of an incorrect challenge outweighs the benefit of getting a call overturned. So far this season, Machado is 2-for-5 in ABS challenges. Rather than look to improve his 40% success rate, Machado is taking his strike zone and leaving it up to others to judge. "I’m done,” Machado said, via the San Diego Union-Tribune , after challenging a strike-three call that was confirmed in the fourth inning of the Padres' 1-0 win on Wednesday. Machado said earlier this year that he would only tap his helmet to challenge “obvious” calls. Now?…

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