Get context, not just headlines. Every weekday The Excerpt brings USA TODAY's award-winning journalists from across the nation together to unpack America's most pressing stories — from politics and culture to sports and entertainment — with host Dana Taylor.
Technology and tradition are converging this spring training as AI-based umpires are tried out as part of MLB's evolution. The Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which uses Hawk-Eye technology, a fixture in tennis matches, was rolled up from the minors into the majors for an experimental run this season. The system which accurately identifies a ball or strike but still allows players to challenge calls they feel are inaccurate, be it a strike, ball or walk. But could ABS automate the game a little too much for fans? USA TODAY MLB Reporter Gabe Lacques has seen the robot umpires in action and joins The Excerpt to share his impressions.
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