Kicker: A perfect ump

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NICK EICHER, HOST: It’s Opening Day for Major League Baseball.

Yes, baseball is back, and with it, one more branded interruption.

MLB is rolling out for 2026 an all-new ABS challenge — automated balls and strikes — each team receiving two chances a game to show-up the ump without getting kicked out.

Only the batter, pitcher, or catcher can challenge — by tapping his helmet or cap. Then the system tracks the questionable call, the scoreboard shows the result ,and we all get a little closer to living inside a video game.

They even tried it out at last year’s All-Star Game:

AUDIO: “Ball down.”

“What do you think?”

“Yeah, I like that.”

“Automated balls and strikes powered by [duck and fade] T-Mobile’s network.”

There it is: yet another revenue opportunity ,brought to you by your name here.”

It’s The World and Everything in It.

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