Vladimir Guerrero Jr. showcased his tenacity during a recent Grapefruit League game, challenging an outside pitch call against the Philadelphia Phillies. The automated ball-strike system, recently trialed in MLB spring training, confirmed the umpire's call, illustrating the growing integration of technology in the game. This season, MLB has introduced a limited challenge system, allowing players to contest calls, though reactions among players vary.

Max Scherzer expressed frustration over the technology's effectiveness, emphasizing that while human umpires aren't perfect, the reliance on tech could lead to inconsistency in critical pitch calls, significantly impacting game outcomes. The nuances of pitch counts also reveal the importance of early balls and strikes on a player's performance, with statistics indicating marked differences in batting averages depending on the count.