When a Call Misses: The WBC’s Near‑Miss

A game that could have ended in a different way turned out to be a lesson about human error. In the World Baseball Classic semi‑final, the United States beat the Dominican Republic 2‑1 after two controversial strike‑three calls. One call happened on a slow slider that was well below the knee, and the other came on a breaking ball that was clearly down in the zone. The Dominican players felt the impact immediately, but their coach stayed calm and said the game is about more than one pitch. The controversy raises a question many fans already ask: why isn’t the automated ball‑strike system (ABS) used in the WBC? In Major League Baseball, ABS will run through the regular season and playoffs this year.It lets umpires review calls with a camera, preventing mistakes in critical moments like the one on Sunday. Both the Dominican star and the USA manager expressed hope that ABS will join next time. The technology takes time to set up because the WBC travels across several countries and venues. Last year’s tournament had a new pitch clock, but it was not ready for the event itself. Similarly, ABS will need approval from players and organizers before it can be used in 2029. For Dominican fans, the loss feels like a missed opportunity. One player joked that the ball was in play, but the disappointment is real. The team believes they can bounce back and welcome new tools that might level the playing field in future tournaments.