In a Cactus League spring training game on March 16, 2024, at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, San Francisco Giants pitcher Robbie Ray faced Cleveland Guardians outfield prospect Sean Mooney with two outs in the top of the fourth inning.[1][2] The Giants led 3-0 at the time, with Mooney representing the tying run.[1][3]
Home plate umpire Bill Miller called a low sinker from Ray a ball on an 0-2 count. Giants catcher Patrick Bailey immediately challenged the call under the automated ball-strike (ABS) system rules, which allow only the batter, catcher or pitcher to initiate a challenge, with each team allocated two per game.[1][4]
Miller announced the challenge to the crowd but left his microphone on, inadvertently saying, "Please be a strike."[1][2] The ABS system upheld Miller's original call, determining the pitch was a ball by three-tenths of an inch.[1][3]
Two pitches later, Mooney struck out swinging to end the inning.[3] The Guardians rallied to win 5-4 in 10 innings.[2][3]
The ABS challenge system, featuring batter-specific strike zones calibrated to height, was used in all 2024 spring training games except for split-squad matchups, following years of testing in the minor leagues and Arizona Fall League.[1][4]
Sources
- MLB.com
Article: "Ump's hilarious hot-mic moment during challenge delights crowd"
Publication date: March 17, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/news/bill-miller-hot-mic-during-abs-challenge - The Athletic
Article: "MLB umpire’s plea during robot ump challenge goes viral: ‘Please be a strike!’"
Publication date: March 17, 2024
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5340578/2024/03/17/mlb-spring-training-umpire-mic-bill-miller/ - MLB.com
Page: Game box score and play-by-play
Accessed date: March 16, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/giants-vs-guardians/2024/03/16/746709/final - MLB.com
Article: "How the ABS challenge system works in Spring Training"
Publication date: February 23, 2024
https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-explains-how-abs-challenge-system-works
