Northport, Fla. – Until more than a week of automated ball strike system (ABS) experiments, Aaron Boone is not a fan.
The oldest baseball in the major leagues uses the ABS Challenge System (providing two challenges per game to review the ball or strike call) – The regular season is next year, but teams will be doing trials this spring during Grapefruit and Cactus League play.
So far, Boone could have lived so many lives without it.
“Overall, a step back, the big picture, I don't love it,” Boone said before his 11-1 loss to the Braves at Coolto Day Park on Sunday.
Boone admitted that he liked “that theater” as reviews play on the scoreboard to show whether the pitch actually cut out the strike zone.
However, he believes the system is at least partially lowering catcher framing (Yankees strength), and is concerned that it could create a split between players about who should use the task.
One potential adjustment? Boone said he's interested in teams that can be used from the seventh time to get one challenge each due to their big spots in the tight game.
But the current setup is not Boone's tea.
“Like ” [Saturday]when you watch it sporadically throughout the game, there are 8, 9, 10 [challenges] -That feels strange to me,” Boone said.
“I know it's coming from me, that sounds funny, but I really think these guys are in such a good position there as a whole,” added Boone, who has a carrier effluent of 39. “I don't want to change anything, so it feels like they're getting better and better.”
Clark Schmidt said he felt “great” to throw innings of live batting practice on Saturday in his first action since he was troubled by “Cranky” last week.
“I felt good there and there was no problem today,” Schmidt said Sunday at Stein Brenner Field. “I feel like I'm back on track. This is a relief.”
Schmidt could potentially throw another live batting practice earlier this week before he gets into the spring training game.
After Sunday's game, the Yankees reassigned catcher Ronaldo Hernandez to minor league camp. …Maxfried will make his spring debut with the Pirates at Stein Brenner Field on Monday night.
– Additional report by Dan Martin of Tampa
