C&R - ABSolutely the Future of Baseball?

Summary

The Dan Patrick Show: C&R – “ABSolutely the Future of Baseball?”

Date: April 1, 2026
Hosts: Steve Covino & Rich Davis
Network: iHeartPodcasts and Dan Patrick Podcast Network

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into one of the hottest debates in baseball: the adoption of the Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) system and its impact on the role of human umpires. Steve Covino and Rich Davis tackle the human vs. tech argument, discuss recent on-field incidents, explore changing strategies, and take listener calls on whether the tradition of the home plate umpire still belongs in the modern game. The conversation is authentic, funny, and laced with nostalgia and genuinely engaging analogies.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The State of Baseball: Recapping Recent Games

• The episode opens with casual banter and an update on the baseball season–no undefeated teams remain (04:13), and amusing commentary on fan life as Covino recalls falling asleep during a Dodgers shutout (04:54).
• The importance of unpredictability in baseball—and the “that’s baseball!” ethos—as the hosts reflect on how quickly things can turn in a single game.

2. The Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) System: Firsthand Experiences

• Steve Covino shares watching the Yankees game where the new ABS system was put to serious use–with the Yankees going 5-for-5 on challenges (07:37).
  • Quote: “Throughout the game, the ABS system was put to use, bro. Yanks were 5 for 5. Did you see that? Like, it was put to use and it was like a grain of rice, as they say… Calls were turned over. I’m sitting there like, man, I don’t know how I feel about this because it really could change the outcome of a game." (07:37)
• The intricacies of close pitches being overturned, and how ABS introduces unpredictability and stress—even in early-season, low-stakes games.
• Covino’s girlfriend, a casual fan, poses a crucial question: “Why do they even have umpires? What’s the point then?” (10:58)

3. Questioning the Umpire’s Role

• The hosts ask: If ABS can get it right faster and more accurately, why keep the human ump?
• Rich likens the situation to self-checkout at a supermarket—nostalgic reluctance to pull the plug on traditional jobs even if the tech works better (14:01).
  • Quote: “You’re gonna opt for self checkout, but you’re like, ‘Oh, look, there’s a couple people in their retirement jobs. I don’t want Bob and Cindy’s jobs to go away.’” (14:01)
• Dan Byers and callers argue that umpires are still needed for:
  • Safe/out calls at home,
  • Obstruction, interference,
  • Keeping the flow of the game,
  • Handling disputes and the ‘crew chief’ function (19:24, 34:00, 37:34).

4. The Human Element: Nostalgia, Theater, and Transition

• Covino and Rich explore whether keeping umpires is about preserving the “illusion” of tradition—a field marshal “for the theatrics” rather than necessity (10:50, 14:39, 26:26).
• Nostalgic fans recall the drama of manager-umpire blowups, the signature strike-three calls, and the game’s personality (33:35, 39:01).
  • Quote: “Sometimes you like a good baseball fight and an ejection and these things.” (33:47)
• Rich offers a poignant analogy: keeping the umpire is like keeping a late pet’s food bowl—“We’re not ready to say goodbye to umpires because there’s a part of us that’s like, yeah, but it’s part of the game.” (34:00)

5. Evolving Strategies: ABS Changes the Game

• ABS is not just about “getting it right” but impacts how teams use strategy—debate over when to challenge, especially for the first pitch to get into a hitter’s count (18:14).
  • Quote: “Like the best counts to challenge to put yourself in a better hitting situation?” (18:04)
• Insights into the tiny margins where calls are overturned—most decisions are on the razor’s edge, not egregious errors (20:32, 21:02).
  • Data shows most overturned calls are within millimeters—was the system meant to split grains of rice, or just correct the obvious misses?

6. The Real Future: Fewer Umpires or Just a Slow Goodbye?

• Discussion turns to whether eventually ABS will replace most umpires, and if we’re just “soft-launching” the tech to avoid backlash (19:56, 26:26, 35:08).
• Recognition that umps may remain as administrators or field officials for logistical reasons, not for calling balls and strikes (34:00, 34:13).
• Comedy and analogies lighten the mood—the slow fade-out of umpires likened to fading roles at work or outdated phone numbers nobody wants to delete (36:14).

7. Broader Lessons: Tech, AI, and the Changing World

• The episode resonates beyond sports, with the ABS debate echoing larger anxieties about AI and automation:
  • Broadcast and design jobs vanishing,
  • The need for a “human checker” even when AI works,
  • How hard it is for people to accept cultural change (16:21, 36:14).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• Covino (on ABS anxiety):
  “I don’t know how I feel about this because it really could change the outcome of a game.” (07:37)

• Covino’s girlfriend:
  “Why do they even have umpires? What’s the point then?” (10:58)

• Rich (analogy):
  “We’re not ready to say goodbye to umpires because there’s a part of us that’s like, yeah, but it’s like, part of the game… The minute we think about the umpires, it’s officially robots.” (34:00)

• Dan Byers (on practical need):
  “You would still probably need a person at that spot for those sort of plays. Bunts down the line, fair/foul…” (19:24)

• Rich (on strategy):
  “It’s not just save it for three-two runners on base, bottom of the seventh...” (19:04)

• Covino (on nostalgia and transition):
  “They were the guys that made the call. Now it’s like they have no power. They have to go home to their wife all defeated…” (39:41)

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Key Timestamps

05:14 – Recap of recent baseball games and why “that’s baseball” keeps things unpredictable
07:37 – Covino on seeing ABS used five times in Yankees game, initial skepticism
09:02 – Dan Byers introduces “D minus Buckner,” recent umpire errors
10:31 – Covino’s girlfriend’s casual question: “Why do they even have umpires?”
14:01 – Rich’s supermarket self-checkout analogy
17:30 – Aaron Boone on shifting from resistance to strategizing around ABS
18:04 – Discussing when to challenge via ABS for optimal advantage
19:24 – Dan Byers: Umpires needed for other plays, not just balls/strikes
20:32 – Covino and Rich: Most overturned calls are extremely close
26:26 – Field umpires as “administrators” in the future
34:00 – Rich’s analogy: Not being ready to “say goodbye” to umpires
36:14 – Letting go of traditions—phone numbers and umpires
39:41 – “They were the guys that made the call. Now they have no power.”
50:00 – Recap and reminder: this is a slow adjustment for everyone

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Wrap-Up & Takeaways

Is ABS absolutely the future?
The hosts (and audience) agree on the efficiency and accuracy ABS brings, but there’s clearly more at stake than just technology—tradition, job roles, the theater of sport, and the slow human adjustment to change.

Baseball’s “slow goodbye” to umpires echoes society’s broader friction with automation. Umpires may remain for now, sometimes out of sentimentality or optics, sometimes practicality, but their days as the arbiters of balls and strikes seem numbered. Still, as Covino and Rich underscore—letting go, even if ABS is ABSolutely the future, is much harder in practice than on paper.

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Recommended for listeners who:

• Love baseball, nostalgia, and lively sports banter
• Are curious about how technology is remaking their favorite pastimes
• Appreciate clever analogies, audience interaction, and real-life examples of societal change

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Full discussion and more on Covino & Rich, weekdays on Fox Sports Radio and iHeartRadio.

Transcript

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[Steve Covino]

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[Steve Covino]

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month plan equivalent to DOL per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] hey, thanks for listening

[Steve Covino]

to the Covino Enrich podcast. Be sure to catch us live every weekday from 5 to 7 Eastern, 2 to 4 Pacific on Fox Sports Radio.

[Rich Davis]

Find your local station for kavito [e-mail] or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR.

[Steve Covino]

Hey, welcome to the show on a Taco Tuesday.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah buddy.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah. By the way, I know jstu hates this sentiment. JSTU the world famous. But it's already March 31st. Tomorrow's April Fools. Time's flying. Am I right?

[Rich Davis]

Am I right?

[Steve Covino]

Don't be caught. Don't be the April Fool. Be a down ass fool and tell your friends about Covino and Rich and

[Rich Davis]

keep those two companies in business, Paws and Dudley. Yeah, buy some Easter eggs with the

[Steve Covino]

kiddos and I'm already looking forward to Good Friday. Ready to make it a great Friday. But yeah, we're a holiday week away from Easter man. Damn. Steve Covino, Rich Davis, Iowa, Sam is here, Dan Byers here, Danny G and you. Let's rock out.

[Rich Davis]

I I guess I'm not shocked, but there's no undefeated teams left in baseball, which I mean again, the best team ends up losing 60 games but still no one's four. Zero.

[Steve Covino]

No one's four.

[Caller Randy]

No.

[Rich Davis]

Yankees got walked off last night by Cal Raleigh who was sucking until then.

[Steve Covino]

I was talking smack about but not really. I wasn't wishing anything bad but Boba

[Rich Davis]

Shet who was sucking for the Mets, he was the guy that got a couple ribbies yesterday. So it just shows you baseball is such a fickle back and forth game.

[Steve Covino]

It really is.

[Rich Davis]

And the Dodgers got shut Out. So, like, you know, it's. It's baseball. Here we are.

[Steve Covino]

But what a month. Oh, I checked.

[Rich Davis]

It was four. Nothing.

[Steve Covino]

Okay, four to two. You fell asleep, man.

[Rich Davis]

I guess I did.

[Steve Covino]

That's dad life for you. Rich fell asleep.

[Rich Davis]

I was like, for nothing.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah, I don't trust what he's saying. He fell asleep. That's baseball. So we're baseball live from the Fox Sports Radio studio. If you miss any of the show today, you want to catch the podcast, search Covino and Rich. Wherever you get your podcast, tell your friends about it. Covino and Rich, we appreciate you. There's also a best of the week.

[Rich Davis]

It was the bottom of the ninth. I actually was keeping track of that game. Like, man, the Dodgers are getting shut out. I stopped watching in the eighth. They scored two in the ninth.

[Steve Covino]

So that's baseball.

[Rich Davis]

Here I am, the great story, bro.

[Steve Covino]

I'm just kidding. I had to justify why Easter eggs?

[Rich Davis]

No, I was.

[Steve Covino]

That's the coolest story I've ever heard in my entire life. And I don't blame you. Shout out to my peeps. I can't believe it's Easter week.

[Rich Davis]

I was funneling mini Cadbury eggs.

[Steve Covino]

That's right down my throat. And guys, when you're done checking out our podcast, right? And our YouTube stream, we're streaming live Covino and rich FSR on YouTube. Be sure to check out the standings in the Fox Sports Radio bracket [e-mail] where hosts like Rich and I compete against listeners. Congrats to Daniel K. Who's currently at top of the standings at first place in the host standings, Ben Maller is in first place. Good for Ben Maller. Followed by Jason McIntyre. And the winner bracket after a champion is crowned, will win $1,000 gift card. Sweet. Yeah, it's not.

[Rich Davis]

Let Ben Maller win. You think he's ever won anything in his life?

[Steve Covino]

I don't know. The Fox sounds. That sounds mean.

[Rich Davis]

I'm kidding.

[Steve Covino]

Are you bullying Ben? Ben Maller, he's a big guy. He'll smack you around if he could catch me. Fox Sports Radio Bracket challenge presented by Webull. It's time to get your financial portfolio game ready with Webull. Get powerful investing tools and real time data all on one platform. Get started by downloading the Webull app today or visiting webull.com Webull Financial LLC

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[Steve Covino]

For more information, visit weeple.com disclosures now. It's a Tuesday, which means we have a special guest stopping by. Usually someone comes here and asks some trivia questions. Sometimes it's Patrick Mahomes. Broke Mahomes. Sometimes it's broke. Shaq. Shaquille o'. Neal. I heard that Big Poppy might be stopping by one of these weeks to do some baseball trivia. But today, Iron Mike is stopping by broke. Iron Mike has some multiple choice trivia and prizes to give away later in the show. We're gonna talk some Tommy Boy. It's an anniversary. Tommy Boy, the movie and quotable movies. But let's get into it. Last night. Yeah, last night I dreamt of San Pedro. Last night, Last night she said last night.

[Rich Davis]

Can you think of a third?

[Steve Covino]

Last night? No. You got one. Last night a DJ saved my life. Sam came through with the assist. Sammy boy, that's how the game is played. Last night I'm watching the Yankees and you said it, Rich. The only run they could score was a sacrifice fly against the Mariners. Cal Raleigh, who was like, oh, for the season, comes up in a big situation, walks off the Yankees. But I'm sitting there watching the whole game, right? And throughout the game, the ABS system was put to use, bro. Yanks were 5 for 5. Did you see that? Like, it was put to use and it was like a grain of rice, as they say. They were getting it by this much. Not this much, this much. Calls were turned over. I'm sitting there like, man, I don't know how I feel about this because it really could change the outcome of a game.

[Rich Davis]

Well, yesterday, Dan Byer brought up an umpire that sort of looked a little foolish. And yesterday was even worse for him. CB Buckner.

[Steve Covino]

CB Buckner is not having a good week.

[Rich Davis]

This guy is like, it's missing. Inside, outside, it's. It's to the point now.

[Steve Covino]

Inside, outside, come around.

[Rich Davis]

It's to the point now where some people are just looking a little foolish, right?

[Steve Covino]

And that's not the point. It wasn't created to show up an umpire. It was created to get it right.

[Dan Byers]

They're calling him D minus Buckner now, Not CB Buckner.

[Steve Covino]

D minus.

[Rich Davis]

D minus Buckner.

[Steve Covino]

I like that. I like that.

[Rich Davis]

He. It's just I, you know, and you can see the look on his face, too. It's. There's a level of, like, embarrassment. I believe he rung up Trevor story on a check swing without checking with the first base umpire. Simply out of spite. In my mind, like, I feel like it was. There's like a spite level to this as well.

[Steve Covino]

I find it interesting. We talked about the theatrics of it. I get It. I'm not one of those haters. Let's make it very clear. I'm just one of those, like, I don't know how I feel about it yet sort of guys, right? Cause I'm not used to the strategies involved. Like, man, that could have been a strikeout, but now he gets another chance and oh wow, he hit a home run. Like that wouldn't have happened if they didn't turn it over. Like, wow, that's crazy. So I'm sitting here just like pacing around my living room because the Yankees challenge, five calls, five for five. I'm like, dang, this is wild. And we're all experiencing this together. Unless you watch minor league baseball, right? We're all experiencing this together in the big leagues. So I'm sitting there and my girlfriend, who watches casually, I mean, she watches me watching it. That's what she does. She watches me watching while scrolling on her phone. She sees me pacing around, like scratching my noggin about it.

[Rich Davis]

Yesterday was March 30th. Relax, relax.

[Steve Covino]

I don't get it. No.

[Rich Davis]

You have 159 games left. Like, you pacing around. You pace around like it's post season baseball. You're pacing around on March 30th.

[Steve Covino]

Get my steps in, bro. Why you don't do that? You cleaning your counters, windexing mirrors, 9500 steps. I wanted to get 500 more in my living room. Relax. It's more. Why would the most hyper guy on the planet telling me to relax, relax. The guy who can't sit still for three seconds.

[Rich Davis]

But the stakes are low, bro.

[Steve Covino]

I'm watching the game. I'm walking around the living room. You don't do that. I'm the only guy I got to lay there and sit there the whole time. So anyway, I'm watching the game. It's a nail biter. Five calls. I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about the ABS system. I think much like a lot of people and my girlfriend, cuz again, she's a casual fan, she doesn't care either way. She's like, why do they even have umpires? Like, what's the point then? And I can't think of one logical reason other than to move the game along.

[Rich Davis]

You know, it's always great to watch sometimes. Not only baseball, any sport or something with someone that doesn't know anything about it. Because sometimes they will actually pose yeah, really interesting questions like why do they do that? And you're like, no, I don't.

[Steve Covino]

I don't know. I really don't know, hey, why did they.

[Rich Davis]

Why did the referees do this? Or, hey, why do the coaches, you know, like, I think I had an ex asked me once. They like, why do baseball managers wear uniforms like they're on the team? I'm like, you know, I don't.

[Steve Covino]

So I'm like, tradition, you know, I'm trying to explain, you know, the human element. She's like, yeah, but if they have the ability to get it right, what's the point?

[Rich Davis]

But they're allowed to challenge the human element, aren't they?

[Steve Covino]

But, you know, human element, old school guys, you know, umpires need jobs, too. Next question. So I challenge you, Fox Sports Radio Nation. I do. Everybody. Can anyone give me a serious answer? Because I need to know. I'm like Mark Anthony. I need to know for when my daughter slides into the kitchen, asked me, hey, dad, if they have automatic balls and strikes, why do they have an umpire? I need an answer to explain to someone else. The guy at the barbershop, hey, why do they even have umpires, man, if they got the automatic ball strike system? Um, can anyone give me a logical answer other than, well, you know, the human element which could be challenged or, you know, to move the game along. And you know what's scary about that? Rich. I forget who was saying it recently, but, like, oh, it's Mike Rowe. Mike Rowe of Dirty Jobs.

[Rich Davis]

I mean, that guy was right with all his blue collar stuff. Those are the jobs that are safe.

[Steve Covino]

He's absolutely right because everything else is unnecessary. Like, Rich and I, we also host a music channel right, On Sirius xm. Do they need us?

[Rich Davis]

Don't say that out loud.

[Steve Covino]

No, but it's the truth. Do they need me to say, hey, here's Metallica, hey. And by the way, here's Godsmack. But what do I do? I keep it moving, right? To move it along. And I really think that's the only real use of an umpire right now, to keep it moving, to move it along.

[Caller Mo]

But you're also the narrator. You, you are part of the living organism which, which for like a home plate umpire, there's more than. There's more to the game situation than

[Steve Covino]

just calling balls and strikes, delaying the inevitable. It's as clear as the nose on my face. It really is no logical explanation as to why we just don't go with the ABS system unless there's a. It's going to delay the game. And they're proving that it's not really. It's pretty automatic. It's hydromatic.

[Rich Davis]

Well, I said it yesterday, I compared it slightly to self checkout at a supermarket where you're gonna opt for self checkout, but you're like, oh, look, there's a couple, you know, couple people in their retirement jobs. I don't want to, I don't want Bob and, you know, Bob and Cindy's jobs to go away. They could do checkout.

[Dan Byers]

Well, you need it for alcohol, right? Alcohol for a play at the plate. Are you suggesting that an unplug, a buyer, like, sits in, in a chair off to the side, and then when the ball's in play, he ends up, he would then call the home plate play.

[Steve Covino]

I could see that, but you don't need all of those umpires.

[Rich Davis]

I don't mind him standing there just

[Steve Covino]

for the illusion, like a field umpire, like some sort of someone in charge out there.

[Dan Byers]

How about they have a gate like in rodeo, and then when the ball's in play, the gate busts open and the umpire runs out.

[Rich Davis]

Runs out. Now you're talking. That's some Savannah Banana stuff right there.

[Steve Covino]

Theatrics, Dan. I like how you're thinking there are theatrics. There's things involved. I get it. There's a transition going on.

[Caller Mo]

Would anybody get trampled?

[Steve Covino]

But Mike Rowe recently said publicly, and Rich, you already said it. Like, the only jobs that are really safe are trade jobs. You know, everyone's gonna need a plumber, an electrician of sorts. Like, those are the jobs that are really gonna mean something in the future. They're not going away. So when she's asking me, when the casual fan, my girlfriend, is asking me, well, then why do you have umpires? What's the point? I, I, I don't have a real answer, so I'm asking for help. Does anyone have the answer?

[Rich Davis]

You know what? It's like our video guy spot. There are some times when we'll ask him a question, and we got very used to him rudely saying, google it.

[Steve Covino]

Should I chat GPT this?

[Rich Davis]

Google it.

[Steve Covino]

Should I chat GPT?

[Rich Davis]

And you know what?

[Sam]

No, don't.

[Rich Davis]

I'll be honest. Don't. Sam.

[Steve Covino]

Let's use our brains.

[Rich Davis]

Sam. There are times, I know, Sam, you're very anti this stuff.

[Sam]

I mean, when I Google something, it's already using AI. So it is. I'm already involved in it.

[Rich Davis]

You know, it's like, it's like the old time dj when you guys all started in radio. Remember the old time DJ? That was like, I don't want to play CDs or off a computer. I want to Play records and it's like, yeah, it's not gonna last. My. My buddy. It's not gonna. It's not gonna last. And by the way, I found the list on the New York Post two days ago. Yeah, there's an article about the jives that are most exposed to AI that are going to be replaced.

[Sam]

What's a jibe?

[Rich Davis]

A jab.

[Steve Covino]

Jib. Jibe.

[Rich Davis]

Talking web and digital designers, web developers, anything to do with databases, computer programmers, data scientists. All this stuff is going away.

[Sam]

However though, even if you're using ABS and if you're using AI, you still need a human quality checker.

[Steve Covino]

That's fine.

[Sam]

You need like somebody like, let's say

[Steve Covino]

that you work in an official of.

[Sam]

So you work in some like, what

[Rich Davis]

do you call it?

[Sam]

Those was warehouses they're building like these data. Data farms stuff. You still need like one person who is like got growing a long silver beard to like go through with a. With a list and check things off, make sure everything's going as coordinate.

[Steve Covino]

Doesn't make a whole lot of sense. As lifelong fans, we've accepted the. The new system. We're like, all right, cool. All right. Yeah, it's been in development for years now. All right, cool, cool. But there's really no real answer as to why we have a home plate umpire then. So I posed the question, rich, maybe you should call an AI. It's. And while you do that, Aaron Boone spoke about it recently too, and he was a guy that was completely against it at first and. And much like it's sort of growing on him. Take a listen.

[Aaron Boone]

I've definitely moved a little more in favor. In part, it's. We've been good at it the first four games. I still think it's a little bit odd. So I'm still getting my opinion on it, which in the end now doesn't really matter. You know, it's like, you know, I kind of switched to this winter when we started really having zooms and stuff with. With coaches and people in our office to kind of go through strategies and, you know, learn about what we've learned about this to this point. Once I knew it was a reality, I shifted to kind of how do we exploit this and be the best we can be at this.

[Steve Covino]

That's another layer that a lot of us haven't really explored. We thought about it. But have you really explored, like the best counts to challenge to put yourself in a better hitting situation?

[Rich Davis]

Oh, without a doubt.

[Steve Covino]

Like they have you figured out, like, is it common knowledge they as to when and when not do it.

[Rich Davis]

They've already talked about this. I've heard people and I've thought about it myself sometimes the first pitch of it at bat. They say when you analyze what what precedes not proceeds what comes after that would be what proceeds is before Let

[Steve Covino]

me use my head recedes is your hairline. So that's not dare you well, how

[Rich Davis]

about what comes after what follows? What follows when you look at batting average and percentages when you start one and oh versus Owen one drastically different. So they're saying in the beginning of account if. If the first pitch is a ball that one OH is right way different

[Steve Covino]

than a ball changed the whole outcome of the at bat.

[Rich Davis]

It's. It's not just save it for three. Two runners on base, bottom of the seventh. Aaron Boone even talked about that in the beginning of the season. Where.

[Steve Covino]

But how do you know where to. Yeah, all the players have to be up on that and some players are going to be better than others. But, you know, there's so much strategy involved here that I am having a hard time figuring out like, well, why do we need umpires? Are we just delaying it?

[Dan Byers]

Dan Byers, I mean, to your point about the optics of having somebody there on a bunt, on whether it's fair or foul right in front of the catcher, you're going to need that certain point of view that you would like on an instant call. Any call could be reviewed and changed, but I think that that would be a reason why you would have an umpire in that spot. Whether they're calling balls or strikes would be separate of it. But you still would probably need a person at that spot for those sort of plays. Buns down the line. Fairfall did it.

[Steve Covino]

You know, that's a really fair answer. That's a good answer.

[Rich Davis]

I mean, that there's going to be a home plate umpire on hand. It's just a matter of will they call or will that be good.

[Steve Covino]

Maybe there's a just a field umpire and he's. Maybe there's two umpires instead of. Yeah, you know, like I don't know

[Dan Byers]

because I think that people would. People think like let's get rid of the home plate umpire. They just don't want anybody there. Like what's. But you're going to need someone for that base to at least record it there. So.

[Steve Covino]

But on the flip side, while you're

[Dan Byers]

there, you might as well just call balls and strikes as well.

[Steve Covino]

DB I'm with you because Rich brought this up. I'll give Credit to my guy here to my left, Rich Davis. Rich Davis. I've never heard you do that before. I know this is rare.

[Rich Davis]

I'm gonna sit back and take it.

[Steve Covino]

I'm not hating on the ABS system. Let's get it right. But so many of these calls that they are challenging, that they're missing, are so on the edge of the strike zone. Like. Like, I'm talking Greg. Greg Maddox. Just right there hitting the corners. But by this much, there's only been a few calls where they were, like, drastically off. Like, only a few. All the ones that they've. That have challenged and they've been wrong about are so close that it's like they could have been a strike if I.

[Rich Davis]

If it was Dan Beyer. I apologize. I talked to someone about this.

[Steve Covino]

You showed me that chart.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah, no, the chart of the challenge call. So far, there were only two obvious ones where there was a ball right down the middle that they called.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah. So for something like that challenge, that

[Rich Davis]

there was a low and outside one. But most of the balls that have been challenged, good and bad, like overturned or not, are like, literally, like, you know, when you see a spray chart of shots in the NBA, the spray chart of it was literally around the square, except two exceptions. And with that said, then you're really taking away the intricacies of an umpire strike zone.

[Steve Covino]

Someone was saying how Greg Maddox fighting of the. You know, don't you like the human element of the managers and the umpires fighting?

[Rich Davis]

There was a manager yesterday. Was it the twins? Where he was arguing, and the announcer's like, you can't argue umpire. You can't argue robots.

[Caller Mo]

Well, that's another reason you need them to handle the in person disputes.

[Steve Covino]

Robot says it's a strike.

[Rich Davis]

But based on what I was saying with that chart, someone was saying, like a guy like Greg Maddox would strategically work parts of the zone to get the call later in the game and slowly work around the zone. That's over. And then the other layer, too is we all got little kids. When does this start? So you use umpires until you get to the big. So, like, it's not like little League and pony ball and high school and college. Are they gonna have abs?

[Steve Covino]

No way. So basically, I mean, you say no way, but I bet you it's. It's probably gonna be even more simple to figure out how to do this in the future.

[Rich Davis]

You think all of a sudden, team sideline. Team sideline is going to get new, new equipment.

[Steve Covino]

It'll be a stupid app that you could have on your phone in a year and a half, the postseasons are

[Dan Byers]

ruled differently than the regular season. We don't have right field and left field line umpires during the regular season. So what that tells me is that Major League Baseball, with whatever they want to do with the Umpires association, but if you wanted to keep down costs and only pay three guys, they already do it. Because if it's. If it's that important for the postseason where you need a guy down right, you need a guy down left, then you probably should have them there in the regular season as well. It's not like the NFL adds three more guys in the playoffs or the NBA adds another official in the postseason, but for whatever reason, Major League Baseball does it that way. But, yeah, so I. I could see them subtracting if they ever needed to, because if you look at the postseason, it doesn't matter on what they. I mean, they change it anyway for the postseason.

[Steve Covino]

A really, really interesting find. The spray chart.

[Dan Byers]

Well, that was the Buckner, by the way, because he had one inside, one outside. What is it?

[Rich Davis]

But that's the size of Ohio here. I want to try to find that picture, though, because it really is like, you know, when something's like, well, it wasn't designed for that, but that's what people are using it for. I feel like, again, most of the calls that were overturned or not are within inches of the. Of that square, the K zone. Only two or three so far this season are like, wow, that was a bad call. And I think it was designed for the bad call. When it's, you know, when it's like, ooh, three and one, ball four. And it's like, no. Nicked it by, like, like a grain of rice. A grain of rice. Like, is that. Was that what is designed for. To get it that right?

[Caller Mo]

Like in football, when the shoe is like, right on the. The white line.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah, it's. It's been a fun sort of transition to be a part of, to watch. Hey, by the way, Rich and I share something in common. Our very first paying jobs were Little League umpires. Little League umpires. So not hating on the umpires, just speculating on, hey, if we have the ability to get it right, give me a logical answer as to why there's a home plate umpire.

[Rich Davis]

I modeled my.

[Steve Covino]

Because we're taking it slow. Is that really it? Is that. Is that the real truth?

[Rich Davis]

I mean, it's like, it's a slow transition. By the way, I modeled my Little League umpiring after Leslie Nielsen Naked Gun.

[Rob Parker]

Yeah.

[Steve Covino]

By the way, what was it like $15 a game behind home plate?

[Rich Davis]

I think 20.

[Steve Covino]

$10 in the field, I think is what I started at.

[Rich Davis]

It was 20 behind home plate, 10 or 15 in the field.

[Steve Covino]

I umpired Little League for a good two, three years. It was a great, great learning experience. You know, these guys under, are under a lot of pressure. It's not meant to embarrass them. We established that yesterday is to get it right. But what's the point? What's the point of keeping them around if we have the ability to get it right in a really decent amount of time?

[Rich Davis]

It's a great question. So we'll get to that next. Right here, Kavino and Rich talk a little umpires Tyson trivia. We pay tribute to Tommy Boy and a question about NFL international games. We're going to get to so a lot of fun Tuesday CNR right here on fsr.

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[Steve Covino]

Covino and Rich live from the Fox Sports Radio studio. Danny G, our super producer, IA Sam, our sound architect and of course DB, your consummate professional with the updates.

[Rich Davis]

Mark Anthony, who needs to know?

[Steve Covino]

Hey Mark Anthony, why do you need to know? I need to know why we have home plate umpires. I need to know. Here's what's bothering me the most.

[Rich Davis]

Oh jlo.

[Steve Covino]

I need to know how I feel about this because I'm so confused by everything about it. I mean I. I know how it Works.

[Rich Davis]

You said you're confused by two things. The finale of paradise last night.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah, I was confused by that.

[Rich Davis]

And why are we. What are we doing with abs?

[Steve Covino]

I like Dan Byers reasoning of, well, you need a home plate umpire for a fair ball down the line. I'm like, well, you could have like a field official, like a field umpire, one umpire. Do you really need the home plate umpire? If we have the ability to get the calls right, are we doing it for the theatrics of it? Are we doing it to keep the game moving because you know the umpire is going to get some wrong? I think in the Yankee game last night. And again, that's the one I was watching. So feel free to represent your team or whatever. Eight, seven seven, nine nine on Fox, the Yankees challenge. Five calls. They were five for five. Right. There's a whole other stat that we're going to have to figure out too. Like, yo, how good is your team at getting these calls right versus the umpire?

[Rich Davis]

It's almost like, how's your team on fourth down? Right.

[Steve Covino]

Exactly. Yeah. Well, I think the umpire had 12 missed calls or something like that. So, like there was still 12 calls that they didn't get. So, you know, there's so much confusion around it. But I ask you this question because my girlfriend asked me yesterday, why do they have home plate umpires? Then? I don't have a real, like, honest answer. I don't know.

[Caller Mo]

You don't tell her about the rest of the rules or they have to enforce the rules. And then I brought up the disputes.

[Rich Davis]

You know what, the fights are fun, right?

[Caller Mo]

Yeah. The manager getting his shoes like dirt kicked on his cleats.

[Rich Davis]

The days of Lou Pinella and Tommy Lasorda Anderson.

[Caller Mo]

There's still in person disputes, though, that a robot's not going to be able to fix.

[Rich Davis]

Sometimes you like a good baseball fight and an ejection and these things.

[Steve Covino]

I like that, too. I'm with you on it. I'm not hating, I'm just stating it doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

[Rich Davis]

I have the answer and it's through a sad analogy.

[Jonas Knox]

But.

[Rich Davis]

But by the way, with DB Said, I agree that a home plate umpire more as an administrator of sorts, like almost field official overseeing the game, like a home plate umpire is sort of the crew chief. That's sort of.

[Steve Covino]

Still, I hate to say it, we're just in a weird transitional phase. This is not how it's going to remain permanent.

[Rich Davis]

Well, I'll tell you why. Can I give you a sad analogy?

[Steve Covino]

Sure.

[Rich Davis]

So we lost our dog in December.

[Steve Covino]

Man, you're already making me sad.

[Rich Davis]

Piper Waffles, our little French bulldog. No, I was. Sam. You would play with that dog every time you came over. Sam and my dog had a little bond.

[Sam]

Spot, too.

[Rich Davis]

Our buddy Spot.

[Sam]

Spot and Piper.

[Rich Davis]

You know, Spot shed a tear at my house.

[Steve Covino]

I would expect it.

[Sam]

Piper was a sweet little sausage roll.

[Rich Davis]

Can I tell you something not to get all sad? You know, her dog bowl is still out because my wife doesn't have the heart to officially put it away.

[Caller Randy]

Hmm.

[Steve Covino]

Sad.

[Rich Davis]

I use that said analogy. We're not ready to say goodbye to umpires because there's a part of us that's like, yeah, but it's like, part of the game. And, like, you know, like, the minute we think about the umpires, it's officially robots. Okay?

[Steve Covino]

We're keeping around. Keeping them around for anyone over 70.

[Toyota Ad Announcer]

What?

[Rich Davis]

We're keeping them around simply because we're almost scared to move on in a

[Steve Covino]

way and think about, like, I felt that way. Rich, Remember when we fired our original producer, but we kept him around as a video guy until eventually he faded away?

[Rich Davis]

Is that we do it all our producers make him video guys and then

[Steve Covino]

get rid of them.

[Rich Davis]

No, I'm joking, Spot.

[Steve Covino]

No, but that's the truth, right?

[DraftKings Sportsbook Announcer]

Wait, wait, What?

[Rich Davis]

Who?

[Steve Covino]

Our original. Original.

[Sam]

Is this the pre Spot era?

[Steve Covino]

Yeah, the pre Spot era.

[Sam]

This is like BC versus AD yeah.

[Steve Covino]

We're not gonna really get rid of you, dude. Like, you can make videos for us and stuff. And then eventually that went away, and that's what we're seeing here. I agree with you, Rich.

[Toyota Ad Announcer]

Yeah.

[Caller Mo]

But sometimes you leave a company and they don't know or realize everything you did until you're gone. There's a list of things and like, wait, oh, he did that. Any took care of. Oh, and we got to cover that now. So you guys are not digging deep enough to what all the job responsibilities are for that home plate umpire.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah. You know what, Danny G, I hate to give you another sad analogy. I'm, like, really bringing the sadness today. In your phone, do you have phone numbers of people that are no longer with us?

[Caller Mo]

Sure.

[Rich Davis]

Because deep down inside, you're never gonna delete it, because that's like a weird. Like, I'm removing them. You keep them around. Like, some people will text a dead relative as some type of. Like, they're a therapeutic thing. Like, I'm just saying we don't like to let things go. And I think umpires, we're really just gonna hang around and see. And they're gonna be there eventually. At one point, they're gonna be there just monitoring because you need someone. And I think we're. Like Kavino said, we're in a weird world where if you thought it was weird when social media and the Internet took over AI, people in that world will tell you AI is going to dwarf the changes we saw with the Internet. If we thought the Internet and social media changed our lives, people are saying AI, there's people already talking about in our lifetime, anytime you get a surgery or you're at a doctor, it's gonna be like a robot claw doing it. And there's gonna be someone there sort of monitoring it. I mean, we're. I mean, every industry is gonna change with AI.

[Steve Covino]

Let's get a few phone calls. Dan. Dan Byers, update. So the question is, why do we even have umpires? Do you have a real logical answer for that?

[Rich Davis]

Feel sad to say goodbye to them. Danny G. Wanna go rapid fire?

[CarMax Ad Announcer]

Yeah.

[Caller Mo]

Let's start with Randy in Kentucky.

[Rich Davis]

Randy, what's up, buddy?

[Caller Randy]

How you doing?

[Rich Davis]

What's up, man?

[Caller Randy]

Hey.

[Rich Davis]

So I think I got four things.

[Caller Randy]

You got safe out calls at home plate.

[Rich Davis]

Yep.

[Caller Randy]

You got obstruction calls, catchers, interference, the ball hits them.

[Rich Davis]

Randy, there's reasons, I think we're more asking, like, why do we. Why do we have them for like an balls and strikes?

[Steve Covino]

Like, if we're committed to getting the call right, why not just get it right?

[Rich Davis]

I think we could all agree. Dan, by brought up the best point. Like, there's other calls a home plate umpire makes. But I'm saying let's stick to the balls and strikes. Why we even. Why are we, like, soft launching this? Just to make sure it's right. You think in a year from now we're like, yeah, it works.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah. But they tested this. They've been doing it for, I think, through over three years. They've been using it and it's been in development for a long time. So.

[Caller Mo]

But with the pro level, I don't think they can just go cold turkey.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah, you're right.

[Caller Mo]

People got to get used to it, especially baseball fans.

[Dan Byers]

How much do you guys think that a baseball umpire's reputation plays into this? They're really the only officials that confront teams. And I think that everyone is relishing in the fact that these umpires are being put in their place.

[Rich Davis]

Oh, yeah.

[Dan Byers]

You know, like, there is something to that. You don't see Jason Stewart.

[Sam]

Jason Stewart. Excuse me.

[Dan Byers]

What's that?

[Steve Covino]

Jason?

[Sam]

It's Jason Stewart. I'M sorry.

[Public Ad Announcer]

Just throw it.

[Rich Davis]

What does Jason Stewart have to do?

[Jonas Knox]

Jason, explain.

[Steve Covino]

You have to explain your story that Jason's relishing in the fact that these umpires being buried.

[Sam]

I thought we all saw his social media posts. I'm sorry, I shouldn't jump the guy. Jason's kind of liking the fact they're getting a little bit, you know.

[Dan Byers]

Yeah. Like you don't see, you don't see Sean hockey, you know, getting in the face of Robert Sala.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah.

[Dan Byers]

You know, on a holding call or anything like that. Like it would be. Yeah, it's. These are the only officials that end up doing it and are arrogant and at times brash and sometimes start their own confrontations. And now they're kind of being put in their place.

[Steve Covino]

But you know how sad it is for them, though. You imagine they're still as arrogant as they may have been. Right. And we all hated the empires. It brought a lot of fun. Danny G. You say you love the Billy Martin umpire.

[Caller Mo]

Back and forth as a little kid. That was one of the things that drew us to the game.

[Steve Covino]

They were the guys that made the call. Now it's like they have no power. They have to go home to their wife all defeated. Like, what's wrong, honey?

[Caller Randy]

Nothing.

[Steve Covino]

It was embarrassed again at the field today. Like, they are probably losing sleep at night. Like, I love to hear an interview with one of these guys to hear the nightmare that they're living through right now when you got the entire crowd.

[Caller Mo]

They used to be Big Mike who ran the police, and now they don't run anymore.

[Steve Covino]

They don't run anything.

[Rich Davis]

Can I give you. I'll give you. Listen, man, I'm feeling like I'm rolling with the analogies. But you know what, it's like a program director before Spotify and Apple and you know, iheart streaming, before everything became more accessible on social media. Program directors used to have artists by the nuts. Like, you want us to play your song? Well, you got blah blah, blah and blah blah, blah. Now it's like an artist is like, yeah, we don't need you as much.

[Steve Covino]

I feel a little bad for them. I do.

[Rich Davis]

And it's like a hot chick that's no longer hot. Like she was a hot, like, now she's like middle aged fatty. When she used to be hot, she, she thinks she could boss around guys.

[Steve Covino]

Not anymore.

[Rich Davis]

And you know, it's like, you know, there's certain people that get out before the getting's good. I always say that Hugh Hefner died before people were Able to really point out how creepy he was. Angel Hernandez got out right before it was about to get bad. Angel. Imagine Angel Hernandez getting all the flack. All right, let's go to DB's update. They'll take all your feedback. The phones are hot. Having fun? Cnr, db. What's going on, man?

[Dan Byers]

Guys, news just in. You saw it on Fox Sports 1. Italy is going to miss the World cup again, losing in their European qualifying final on penalty kicks. Bosnia and Herzegovina end up winning 41 on PKS. They were tied after 120 minutes. Italy played a majority of the match with 10 men. Because of a red card. They will miss the World cup for the third straight time.

[Steve Covino]

So I got this Italia jersey for no reason.

[Dan Byers]

They're not the only one.

[Rich Davis]

Can they cater the World Cup?

[Dan Byers]

Good call. Czechia top. Denmark on PK's, 3 to 1 on those penalty kicks. So check the advances. Sweden beat Poland earlier today 3 to 2. Turkey top. Kosovo 1 nil. Tiger woods entered a not guilty plea to charges today, including suspicion of dui. He's due back in court in late April. Martin County Sheriff's Department says that woods told police he glanced at his phone and then noticed the vehicle in front of him slowing down just prior to Friday's crash. Two hydrocone pills were found in woods pocket with officers saying he was sweating profusely and had glassy eyes. Orlando's Camping World Stadium will be the Jacksonville Jaguars temporary home in 20 because of the renovations being made to Everbank Stadium. The NFL approving that today. NFL owners also approved a rule that would allow the league's officiating department to correct a clear missed call if replacement officials are needed to be used this upcoming season. That not tied to abs? I think that's tied to the fail Mary that we had between the Seahawks and Packers about 15 years ago. Couple of other notes to pass along, guys. Gonzaga's Mark Few, Doc Rivers now at coach of the Bucks. Amari Stoudemire, Candace Parker, Elena Deladon, all heading to the Basketball hall of Fame, according to reports. Jacob deGrom, the throw for the Rangers tonight against the Orioles. He was scratched this weekend. Mariners gave prospect Cole Emerson an eight year $95 million deal. The shortstop currently at AAA. Guys, back to you.

[Steve Covino]

Thank you, Dan.

[Rich Davis]

And by the way, I know it's not new news, so it wouldn't make buyers update, but as a Syracuse guy, I saw Jerry McNamara's press conference and I, you know, you realize how quick time moves and Syracuse hasn't made the tournament. Syracuse hasn't made the tournament in years and years now and he's saying I'm bringing it back to the Bayheim days. So for old school, Big east, now, ACC basketball like Syracuse has to be, it's like when they're not relevant in college hoops, the college isn't the same, right?

[Dan Byers]

The one of the students who was a senior said, this is my last year here. We never made the tournament.

[Rich Davis]

They saw the same clip. That's what made me think of it. Thank you, Dan Beyer. Thank you Dan. Now your phone calls and thoughts on ABs and some baseball. Plus we're going to do Tyson trivia, Pay tribute to Tommy boy, which celebrates 31 years today and an NFL deep thought about international travel. That's all coming up right here.

[Steve Covino]

CNR on FSR Live from the Fox Sports Radio studio Professional wrestling fans, the action continues every week. TNA Thursday Impact every week. Don't miss the adrenaline, the drama and the total non stop action as you watch your favorite TNA wrestling stars. For showtimes and more information, visit tnarrestling.com.

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Investing Brokerage Services by Open to the Public Investing Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC Advisory Services by Public Advisors, llc. SEC Registered Advisor Generated Assets is an interactive analysis tool. Output is for informational purposes only and is not an investment recommendation or advice.

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Complete disclosures available at public.com Disclosures Life

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[Steve Covino]

Hey, we're Covino and Rich. Springs in the air and Aleve's long lasting pain relief is here to keep you moving. The days are longer and the flowers are blooming. Whether it's gardening, yard work or just spending more time outdoors, spring has ways of getting us moving. Despite body pain.

[Rich Davis]

That's where Aleve can keep you going. With just one dose, Aleve gives you long lasting body pain relief for up to 12 hours from sunup to sundown. Aleve's got your back. Try Aleve, used as directed for minor aches and pains.

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[Steve Covino]

Oh,

[Rich Davis]

last night. Lots of great baseball, lots of great basketball and we're going to talk all about it. Fox Sports Radio Cavino and Rich live from the Fox Sports Radio studio. In fact, it's time for our Tyrac play of the day. Jackson Hayes and Deandre Ayton were a perfect 13 for 13 from the field last night.

[Steve Covino]

LeBron lob underneath.

[Rich Davis]

Lob in the jab.

[Steve Covino]

Well, the first time these two teams

[Rich Davis]

met, the Lakers shot over 60%.

[Steve Covino]

What are they shooting right now? 60 and a half percent. They've got their number.

[Rich Davis]

Lakers made it look easy last night. Easy over the Wizards 121:01. That call was courtesy of Lakers television from Spectrum Sportsnet. And that was our Tyrack play of the day.

[Steve Covino]

For over 40 years, Tyrack has been helping customers customers find the right tires for how, what and where they drive. Shipped fast and free, backed by free road hazard protection. With convenient installation options like mobile tire installation, tire rack.com the tire buying should be. I'm Cavino, that is Rich. Danny G. Is here. Sam Buyer and you Fox Sports Radio Nation.

[Rich Davis]

Now, by the way, less than 10 games left in the NBA. You and I always talk about how the regular season for you and I is more of a casual watch. And then all of a sudden, like a flip switches for me where I'm like, oh, let's watch now. And I'm like, NBA playoffs. I think it's the one sport where I couldn't really care much about the regular season compared to the playoffs. But playoff time, we're here, man.

[Steve Covino]

The question is if we have the ABS system and it's working great.

[Caller Mo]

You just made me feel like a loser because I watched the whole season.

[Steve Covino]

I. I know, I know, Danny.

[Rich Davis]

You know why? I'll tell you what. I hate the idea that when you include the playing round, right? The new playing round from a couple years ago now you talk about 20 of the 32 teams are in like that. To me, it's like too easy, too easy to be involved. Like there are 500 teams make it

[Dan Byers]

every year in the east and there's only 30 teams.

[Rich Davis]

Did I say 20?

[Steve Covino]

32.

[Rich Davis]

Yeah, 30. 20 and 30.

[Steve Covino]

My bad.

[Rich Davis]

I was 30 in MLB, 30 in basketball, 32 in the NFL.

[Steve Covino]

Boom. Richard's counting the Globetrotters and the Generals now.

[Rich Davis]

He's right.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah.

[Dan Byers]

Is there will be 32 with Seattle and Las Vegas, Rich was looking into the future.

[Caller Mo]

Like AI.

[Steve Covino]

Yeah.

[Rich Davis]

I'm Alex from Paradise.

[Steve Covino]

Is there a logical reason as to why they're still home plate umpires? That's part of the question. But I think what you're really getting at when you hear our discussion or what I'm trying to figure out myself is that you're not alone. If you feel like, there's some sort of adjustment when you're watching just as a spectator. Because I'm sort of watching, like, huh, I don't even know how to feel about this.

[Rich Davis]

Well, again, it's. We have a hard time adjusting. Humans. Humans. Humans have a hard time with change, right? So that's why we do things slowly and, you know, step by step.

[Steve Covino]

I definitely don't hate it, but it is an adjustment. Let's take one quick phone call now and wrap it up at the top of the hour.

[Caller Mo]

Thank you to everybody for holding here. Mo in Arizona.

[Steve Covino]

What up, Mo?

[Caller Randy]

Hey, guys, how's it going?

[Rich Davis]

What's up, man?

[Caller Randy]

Not much, man. Okay. I'm old school, so you got, you know, I gotta have a human element, you know, as far as that. Hoo ha on the third strike. You know what I mean? And then also, you know, who's going to run? The manager and the player. You know, the picture.

[Rich Davis]

Oh, by the way. There you go. Even if it were automated, don't you need someone to do that?

[Steve Covino]

I said logical answer, not like, no. That's your personal goofy preference.

[Rich Davis]

No, I. You tell me a third strike that nicks the corner.

[Steve Covino]

You don't think a robot could be like, who's gonna moonwalk?

[Rich Davis]

Get out of here. No, you need a little.

[Caller Randy]

All right, I've had enough.

[Rich Davis]

You're out.

[Steve Covino]

My calculations say you're out. By the way, robot could do it

[Rich Davis]

just as good to make fun of Stevie Buckner more. And pylon. Did you see your pal John Boy saying that throughout the game? You could tell his called third strikes became less emphatic because he got. He. He was. He was feeling the doubt in himself. Like, first inning, he was like. By the eighth inning, he was like. He was. So it's an adjustment for all of us.

[Steve Covino]

Everybody absolutely is, and that's what makes it interesting.

[Rich Davis]

All right, well, hey, we turn our attention to football, and we're going to do Tyson trivia. We have a lot coming up, but football. Is there any reason why teams would want to play internationally? Kyle Shanahan has spoke out, and as a Niners fan, I'm curious what you think about what he said. We'll get to that and a bunch more next right here on cnr.

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[Steve Covino]

Hey, we're Covino and Rich. Spring's in the air and Aleve's long lasting pain relief is here to keep you moving. The days are longer and the flowers are blooming. Whether it's gardening, yard work or just spending more time outdoors, Spring has ways of getting us moving. Despite body pain.

[Rich Davis]

That's where Aleve can keep you going. With just one dose, Aleve gives you long lasting body pain relief for up to 12 hours from sunup to sundown. Aleve's got your back. Try Aleve, used as directed for minor aches and pains.

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