HUGE WIN: MLB Tests First-Ever Checked-Swing Challenge System And It Absolutely ROCKS

1st off - I think it's a smart move to turn the bats into light sabers for review purposes. You want my attention? Got it. 

2nd and way more important - I would argue the checked swing challenge can have Just As Much (if not more) impact than your run-of-the-mill NFL challenge flag. And until now, I would've figured this technological innovation to be categorically impossible. But it's real and with that come certain realizations. 

For starters and as a fan, there's few feelings worse than getting stuffed good and hard by a 3rd base umpire with dinner reservations.

THATS NOT A FUCKING SWING

They cut to the most inclusive of all replay angles. Let's slow it down here and see. Frame by frame narrating from the color commentary. Doesn't appear to be a full commitment from that angle. They zoom in on the batter's face - he's all fuckin pissed and yelling at the umpire. Angel Hernandez is known for a quick trigger AND THERE HE GOES. Ejected. 

And pretty soon Bryce Harper won't have to worry about that any more. Or at least he gets a chance to build better relationships with the umpire because they can keep each other honest. 

For fans, it absolutely removes one of the most toxic experiences in the catalogue. No exaggeration, you're almost as mad as Bryce in the above hypothetical. It's very close between player and fan when a rally gets sniped by overzealous check-swing authority. 

Then you have to explain to your wife why you're so mad, but you don't really understand the rule in the 1st place because it's actually pretty complicated. She obviously doesn't care, at all. The 3rd base umpire is essentially rendering a judgment regarding the batter's intent to swing. You can't help yourself. And he actually has long standing beef with us so he's looking to screw us over on a fake check swing. 

You're making a mess out the situation and that's okay. Most of us have been here before. 

But down the road, there should be less confusing conversations in the kitchen because, again, technology. 

And no bullshit, it's very much game ready.

Only downside is that baseball players can be massive pussies. And up until now, they've always been able to blame an umpire for holding a vendetta, or being blind or the like. So my hunch is that some guys are going to have their feelings hurt pretty bad when it's conclusively broadcasted to 40,000 fans that you did indeed swing - so much that you shouldn't have even challenged. And now we're out of challenges and you're getting boo'd and it's turning disastrous, honestly. 

But we have time to worry about that. I would guess this goes into some minor league stadiums next year and then gets the CBA's attention. Or however that process works to implement technology. Not really sure on timeline but I am absolutely positive that this will reduce the number of umpire-induced heart attacks and that's a step in the right direction for everybody.