Yankees' Boone criticizes new automated ball-strike challenges

Yankees manager Aaron Boone has expressed strong disapproval of Major League Baseball's new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system. The system allows players to contest umpire calls by tapping their heads after a pitch is called a ball or strike. If the challenge is made, high-tech graphics will show whether the call was correct. Teams have two challenges per game, but they only lose a challenge if they are unsuccessful. Boone shared his thoughts after a recent game against the Boston Red Sox, which featured multiple ABS challenges. He described these challenges as "frivolous" and suggested that limiting teams to one challenge each game would be better. He noted that while some challenges worked out for the Yankees, others, like a recent call that hurt pitcher Geoff Hartlieb, left him frustrated. Boone believes these challenges can mentally affect pitchers when they think they have completed an inning. Additionally, Boone thinks the ABS system undermines the skills of catchers who excel at framing pitches. However, he did find humor in a situation involving Jazz Chisholm Jr., who successfully challenged a strike call in a notably funny way. Boone acknowledged that he talked to Chisholm about proper etiquette regarding challenges. Some Yankees players, including Aaron Judge, have been hesitant to use the ABS challenges. Boone mentioned that Judge seemed reluctant to make a challenge during a game, indicating a general feeling among veteran players to avoid unnecessary disruptions during play.