Boardroom chopped it up with Jazz Chisholm, Cal Raleigh, and more MLB All-Stars about the new ABS challenge system, their best investments, and how they would change the game.
On a hot, humid Tuesday afternoon just outside Atlanta, Major League Baseball‘s best dressed up for the occasion in designer suits and jewelry as their entire families walked the red carpet during All-Star Week. And for the fourth year in a row, Boardroom was on hand to ask some of the game’s biggest names a mix of business and entertainment questions.
We got a glimpse at what the players thought about the automatic ball-strike challenge rule, which was tested later that evening at the All-Star Game, including one superstar we spoke with who was impacted by the experiment almost immediately after stepping to the plate. Who would play your favorite big leaguer in a movie? How would they change the game if they were commissioner for a day? Find the answers below in our annual roundtable:
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
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What are your thoughts on the automatic ball-strike challenge rule?
Corbin Carroll, outfielder, Arizona Diamondbacks: I’m for it. I think the challenge system is good.
Jazz Chisholm, infielder, New York Yankees: I love it. If it’s a ball, I’m going to challenge it.
Pete Crow-Armstrong, outfielder, Chicago Cubs: I had a little experience with the ABS challenge system in Triple-A, and I think it’s a good way to hold both sides of the ball and the umpires accountable. It’s going to be a nice way to get some immediate feedback, but I’m also pretty peaceful with the idea of not changing too much about the game at all.
Max Fried, starting pitcher, New York Yankees: I think it’s a little too early. I haven’t been able to use it too much. You’ve heard some things, but for me, I like the human element of the game with the umpire behind the plate, being able to figure out balls and strikes. No one’s perfect. I’m a fan of umpires.
Steven Kwan, outfielder, Cleveland Guardians: I think it’s pretty cool. The challenge system is better than the automatic one. It introduced some gamesmanship to it, but it’ll be interesting. We just need some more sample sizes for it. I’m kind of a coward when it comes to challenging, to be honest. If I got a challenge wrong, I would feel terrible if I wasted it.
Manny Machado, third baseman, San Diego Padres: Not a big fan of it. I don’t think it’s going to benefit me, but we will see how it goes.
Cal Raleigh, catcher, Seattle Mariners: It’s interesting. I think there’s still some work to be done with the dimensions and how right the metrics are on that. So you have guys changing stances, heights, different ballparks, different angles for cameras. It’s a lot of factors in there.
Bobby Witt Jr., shortstop, Kansas City Royals: We used it a little bit in spring training, but I like having the just regular umpires. But then there are some times when you need it, so yeah, it’s good at times.
James Wood, outfielder, Washington Nationals: I had it in Triple-A. I think it’s good, but each guy would give you a different opinion. We’ll see. There’s obviously some trial and error with it, so we’ll see how it goes. I wasn’t very good at it, so I probably got burned more than it helped me out.
If you were commissioner for a day, what would you change about the game?
Carroll: The automatic ball-strike is up there for sure, but I wish every player got their own challenge.
Chisholm: The rule of the color of your bat, the undershirt rule, and adopting the ball-strike [challenge] rule.
Crow-Armstrong: Make doubleheaders seven innings again, like they were in the minor leagues. I know that I’m going to get a lot of guff for that, the nine-inning doubleheaders are hard.
Fried: I’d change the rule where a dropped ball on Strike 3 doesn’t count as a strikeout.
Kwan: Less games? 162 is a lot. I love playing ball with the boys, but 162 is a lot of time away from your family.
Machado: I’d make the All-Star break a lot longer. Just have All-Star be one day and then have the whole week off, Sunday to Sunday.
Raleigh: Maybe do what hockey did for the All-Star Game this past year. They did a Four Nations Face-Off. It’d be cool to do that for baseball for sure.
Witt Jr.: I really wouldn’t do too much. I like where the game’s at, and the fans like it.
What’s the best and worst investment you ever made?
Carroll: Best is being with the financial firm I’m with now. That was a huge win for me.
Chisholm: Best is my houses.
Crow-Armstrong: Best is my Jeep just because I’ve had it for six years now. But I also purchased a home a couple years ago. Worst is probably my tattoos. I have some of those that I regret.
Kwan: Best is in myself. I knew I wanted to be a big leaguer, so I had to invest in myself to do all the hard work. Worst? Maybe the wrong friends, people that don’t have the same interests as you. You got to be laser focused on what you want to do.
Machado: Best is probably my homes, worst is cars.
Raleigh: Best is some good socks, worst is probably buy too much food. Sometimes it goes to waste.
Witt Jr.: Best is marrying my wife. Worst is a couple of cards that I bought, and then the players didn’t pan out after I got them.
Wood: Best is probably my PlayStation, I use that a lot. Worst is probably clothes or a backpack that weren’t really worth my money.
What’s one hidden talent people don’t know about?
Carroll: I’m an OK cook. I can cook a good steak.
Crow-Armstrong: I was a really good soccer player, and I could play the ukulele a little bit.
Fried: I don’t know if it’s a hidden talent, but I’m really competitive at board games. I’m a little bit of a board game connoisseur. The main one right now is Settlers of Catan, and I’ve gotten into chess.
Kwan: I’m a serviceable chess player, above average.
Machado: I guess I’m low-key funny.
Raleigh: I don’t have any. I golf a little bit. That’s about it.
Witt Jr.: Ping-pong
Who would play you in a movie?
Crow-Armstrong: Seth Rogan, for the comedic aspect.
Kwan: Simu Liu. I think that would be dope.
Machado: I want to say, probably Michael B. Jordan.
Raleigh: A young Kevin Costner.
Witt Jr.: Jim Carrey.
Wood: Denzel Washington would be pretty cool.
If you could pick one walk-up song that would have to be the one you kept your entire life, what would it be?
Carroll: “Overdue,” by Metro Boomin. That’s the song I used through the minor leagues and my rookie year as well. So it did some good.
Junior Caminero, third baseman, Tampa Bay Rays: “UWAIE,” by Kapo.
Chisholm: “Sweet Lover,” by me.
Crow-Armstrong: “Codeine Crazy,” by Future, or I don’t know if this is PG, but “The Percocet & Stripper Joint,” by Future. That’s one of my favorite songs of all time.
Fried: “Work,” by Gang Starr.
Kwan: I did “Who You Foolin’,” by Gunna when it first came out. I like the little Chinese banjo in the beginning. That would go crazy.
Machado: “Otis,” by Jay-Z.
Raleigh: “Hippies and Cowboys,” by Cody Jinks.
Witt Jr.: “Green River,” by Creedence Clearwater Revival.
Wood: “Crew,” by GoldLink.
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