Misryoum reports how Boston catchers and hitters are adjusting to ABS challenge decisions, where timing and judgment still cause swings.
A strike-call can make or break a game, and the Red Sox are discovering that judging the automated ball-strike system requires more than a simple rule of thumb.
In a scoreless game Monday. catcher Carlos Narváez stepped into a moment where the call felt obvious and chose to challenge rather than follow an internal shortcut that had repeatedly backfired.. Boston ultimately won that automated-ball-strike challenge. a reminder that the system is designed for fine margins. not just what “feels” like a strike in real time.. The Red Sox’s learning curve with ABS has been steep so far this season. and their ability to grasp those subtleties is becoming a visible part of their on-field decision-making.
Misryoum notes this matters because small, correct-able calls can change momentum, especially for teams trying to keep games tight and controlled.
The challenge philosophy is shaped from multiple angles.. Narváez has said he tries to reserve challenges for high-leverage situations. but he also acknowledged that there are times when it’s acceptable to question a pitch immediately.. Meanwhile. catcher Connor Wong described how. from a hitter’s perspective. the willingness to challenge has to be driven by clear opportunities rather than hesitation.. Together. their comments point to a central tension: saving challenges for the “right” moment while still acting when the system offers a realistic chance to gain an edge.
That balance has been inconsistent.. Misryoum reports that the team has sometimes delayed challenges even when pitches appeared well within challenge range. while other times the Red Sox have taken on challenges that suggested they were still syncing their instincts to the system’s exactness.. Around the margins of what counts as “reasonable” or “challengeable,” the decision timing becomes as important as the pitch itself.
Misryoum’s takeaway is that ABS isn’t just a technology upgrade for baseball; it also forces teams to retrain judgment, and that takes time.
The Red Sox’s approach has left room for improvement both on the catcher side and among hitters.. Narváez has framed the goal as having at least one challenge available late in games whenever possible. treating it like a limited resource.. That framework can help preserve options in the ninth. but it also increases the cost of being late to act earlier. when some pitches may be worth testing.
Misryoum also highlights how this is connected to how the team manages the “use it or lose it” challenge reality.. If challenges are held for too long. the system effectively goes unused when it could have altered a game’s swing.. If challenges are spent too freely, the team risks running out during the moments that truly matter.
By the end of the day. Narváez emphasized a practical mindset: if it’s a high-leverage situation. missing it is less painful. but wasting a clear chance early on is where regret creeps in.. Misryoum believes that’s the core of the Red Sox’s current challenge: turning ABS from a rule-based habit into a sharper. situation-by-situation discipline that matches how close. and how unpredictable. modern games can get.