Baseball fans split on new tech changing the game

This story version has been formatted as an on-air script for broadcast outlets. See the original research story here.

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL’S NEW AUTOMATED BALLS AND STRIKES SYSTEM IS ALREADY DIVIDING FANS.

A NEW SURVEY OF 2,000 AMERICANS FINDS NEARLY FOUR IN TEN SUPPORT USING COMPUTERS TO HELP CALL BALLS AND STRIKES DURING GAMES.

THE NEW ‘A-B-S’ SYSTEM ALLOWS TEAMS TO CHALLENGE CERTAIN CALLS, BRINGING MORE TECHNOLOGY INTO AMERICA’S PASTIME.

WHILE SOME FANS SAY IT COULD MAKE GAMES FAIRER, OTHERS WORRY BASEBALL COULD LOSE ITS HUMAN ELEMENT.

THE STUDY, CONDUCTED BY TALKER RESEARCH, ALSO FOUND MANY AMERICANS WOULD LOVE AN ‘A-B-S’ CHALLENGE SYSTEM IN THEIR OWN LIVES, INCLUDING FOR THINGS LIKE BILLS, WORK DECISIONS AND EVEN ARGUMENTS WITH THEIR SPOUSE.

SO WHAT ABOUT YOU? SHOULD TECHNOLOGY PLAY A BIGGER ROLE IN SPORTS? WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

Research methodology:

Talker Research surveyed 2,000 Americans; the survey was administered and conducted online by Talker Research between April 3 to April 8, 2026.

To view the complete methodology as part of AAPOR’s Transparency Initiative, please visit the Talker Research Process and Methodology page.