Baltimore Orioles players and manager Craig Counsell expressed frustration Wednesday night following a pivotal seventh-inning call that ruled Pete Alonso's deep fly ball foul, a decision upheld on review. The incident occurred with the game tied at 3, and the New York Yankees went on to score two runs in the eighth inning to win 5-3.
Alonso suggested that Major League Baseball could implement technology similar to what is used in football, such as pylon cameras, or a laser or camera system that shoots straight up to clarify foul pole calls. "The best view, the only view that shows the ball fair or foul is the one down the line, but no other camera angle is available," Alonso said, explaining the difficulty in overturning the call. "So video room rules it foul, umpire obviously called it foul initially. It is what it is."
Manager Craig Counsell echoed Alonso's sentiments, pointing out the availability of ball-tracking data on in-game tablets for players and the use of AI by some teams. He questioned why such technology is not utilized for boundary calls. "It's 2026. There are teams using AI on the iPads and other sports use ball-tracking data for challengeable calls. Don't understand why we don't do it."
Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt attributed the lack of advanced foul pole technology to financial considerations. "Because it would cost money. That's it. I mean, that's literally it," Bassitt stated.
Major League Baseball currently employs technology to confirm or overturn balls and strikes, a system that heightened the Orioles' grievances regarding the foul pole call. The dispute highlights ongoing discussions about the integration of technology in baseball to ensure greater accuracy in game-altering decisions.