Terry Francona and the Automated Strike Zone: A New Era in Baseball
Cincinnati – Terry Francona, after the Reds’ loss to the Red Sox, was understanding of the Automated Strike Zone. Despite the setbacks, the experienced manager took a long-term perspective after the first game of the season. Francona watched as a walk by Eugenio Suárez on a full count turned into a strikeout in the fourth inning. In addition, Connor Phillips’ strikeout of Roman Anthony in the ninth inning, also on a full count, was reversed to a walk.The teams had a success rate of 61.3% in the challenges, getting 19 out of 31 right in the first 12 games of the regular season. Using Hawk-Eye technology, 12 cameras measure whether a pitch crosses the strike zone with an accuracy of approximately one-sixth of an inch. Red Sox manager Alex Cora was satisfied after succeeding in 2 of 3 challenges, although he regretted that one of his batters had not requested a review. Trevor Story was called out with two outs and runners on first and second in the fifth inning. Story was caught swinging at a pitch from Andrew Abbott that appeared to be a ball.I think our pitchers are going to have to get used to thinking that the inning may not be over, and it’s not. It’s almost like when a player comes out and you say, ‘Hey, good job. Can you get one more?’ So you’re going to have to stay focused.
Terry Francona
The Red Sox had a successful challenge in the bottom of the inning when Garrett Crochet’s cutter grazed the bottom of the strike zone against Suárez. Instead of Suárez getting a walk, catcher Carlos Narváez’s challenge resulted in the third out of the inning.You just have to make sure. There was a previous situation where Trevor would be in that situation again, he would probably challenge. We believed the launch was up. We don’t care that he challenges there because it changes everything, right? We were talking about that. It’s a different game now.
Alex Cora
Anthony’s challenge was fruitful. Instead of the third out of the inning and a strikeout, it turned into a walk, putting runners on first and second. Story and Jarren Duran hit RBI singles to give the Red Sox a 3-0 lead.He made a very good pitch right there. I thought it stayed down and was a ball, but with the new ABS, good for him.
Eugenio Suárez
Oneil Cruz, from Pittsburgh, became the first batter to have a ball four reversed to strike three during the third inning against the Mets. New York catcher Francisco Alvarez challenged and it was shown that the pitch touched the inside corner. The Mets were successful on 2 of 3 challenges. Minnesota and the White Sox went 3 for 4 in their challenges, while Tampa Bay went 2 for 2. Phillies reliever Zach Pop failed his team’s first challenge in the eighth inning against Texas’ Brandon Nimmo. Pop challenged James Hoye’s ball four call, but it was upheld on replay and Nimmo was awarded a walk. Manager Rob Thomson did not object to the challenge.I knew it was a ball. I was pretty sure. In a way, it changed the game. It was good to change that, get on base and score there. I trust my instincts and my discipline at the plate. I’ve had many in the past, up, down, inside and outside. That was a good example. Probably not even close. I just knew it there.
Roman Anthony
I was okay with that. I was a tenth of an inch away. That pitch decided an at-bat at the end of the game, we have the advantage. On the defensive side, you want to use that challenge.
Rob Thomson
