PORT ST. LUCIE — Spring training is the time to figure out the nuances of baseball’s evolving rules. With the automated ball-strike system set to be implemented in the big leagues this season, the Mets are taking advantage of this time period.
The team has been using catching coach J.P. Arencibia as an umpire during live bullpens all week, and brought in professional umpires for their Thursday workout. Manager Carlos Mendoza has encouraged the hitters, pitchers and catchers to call for challenges as much as they wanted.
“Be aggressive,” Mendoza said. “We want to see who’s good and who’s not.”
Jonah Tong challenged a ball that he threw to Juan Soto. The call was confirmed, with the Mets going through the proper procedures to check. The group of players watching Tong’s three-inning session from the outfield turned to watch the scoreboard. As it turned out, the pitcher was wrong, and Soto, the slugger known to have one of the best eyes in the game, was correct to take that pitch. Tong laughed, while Soto looked pleased with himself, and joked with catcher Francisco Alvarez.
The three exchanged fist bumps coming off the field.
Tong has more of a familiarity with the system than Soto having used it in the minor leagues, but the big league veterans are starting to think about how they will or will not utilize the ability to challenge the umpire’s calls using replay.
Aaron Judge said he’s excited about the system since it’s so tough to call a zone for his 6-foot-7 frame. Atlanta Braves ace Chris Sale said he won’t challenge any calls, deeming it the job of the umpire. The Astros would prefer that their pitchers don’t challenge calls. Mets right-hander Clay Holmes isn’t sure how he’ll approach it, but he’s leaning toward not challenging unless an umpire makes an egregiously bad call. He’ll trust the judgment of his catchers.
“The consensus so far is pitchers kind of stay away from it,” Holmes told the Daily News. “That’s my whole thing. I mean, even I struggle. My ball moves so much, the catchers are moving the mitt so much. Half the time, I don’t really even know. It’s just tough for me, so I don’t know how much challenging you want to do. I think if it’s that obvious that I can see it, the catcher is definitely going to see it.”
In that case, he’ll let his catcher challenge the call.
Only the batter, pitcher or catcher can call for a challenge, and they can do so by tapping the top of their cap or helmet, and also verbalizing the request; the managers and coaches are unable to call for one from the dugout. However, the Mets’ dugout is calling for some challenges during this brief practice period.
“Sometimes we might not see it with the top of the helmet might be assigned to the dugout,” he said. “Like, ‘Hey, I would like to check that one,’ you know? But we want guys to be aggressive.”
The Mets will issue comprehensive guidelines for challenges later in spring, once they see the results in Grapefruit League games.
