In the regular season, manager challenges are used to overturn a wide variety of calls, including balls, strikes, outs, fair/foul balls, and tag-ups. Texas Rangers and Arizona Diamondbacks mangers will use the challenges during the 2023 World Series.
In the playoffs and World Series, manager challenges are also used to overturn a wide variety of calls. However, there is a tendency for managers to be more selective about when they challenge calls in the postseason. This is because every challenge counts, and managers don’t want to waste their challenges on calls that are unlikely to be overturned.
In Major League Baseball, there are two types of challenges: manager challenges and video reviews. Video reviews are initiated by the umpire crew chief and Manager challenges are initiated by the manager of a team.
Challenges in the MLB
Each team gets one manager challenge per game during the regular season and two manager challenges per game during the playoffs and World Series.
Manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks challenges a call on Dominic Fletcher’s home run with umpire Alfonso Marquez
The teams get the same amount of manager challenges during the postseason as they do during the regular season. Each team gets two manager challenges per game during the playoffs and World Series.
Manager challenges are an important part of the game of baseball. They help to ensure that umpires make the correct calls, and they also add an element of excitement to the game.
It is clear that technology will continue to play an increasingly important role in MLB in the future. Teams and players are constantly looking for new ways to use technology to gain an edge.
What is the most common type of challenge in the MLB?
The most common type of challenge in the MLB is a ball/strike challenge. In 2023, there were several ball/strike challenges in the regular season, accounting for 25%+ of all manager challenges. This is likely because ball/strike calls are the most subjective calls that umpires make, and managers are hoping that the replay officials will overturn incorrect calls.
What is the most successful type of challenge in the MLB?
The most successful type of challenge in the MLB is a tag-up challenge. In 2023, 57% of tag-up challenges were successful. This is likely because tag-up plays are often close and difficult for umpires to see, and the replay officials can use slow motion and close-up angles to get a better look at the play.
