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

In the World Baseball Classic semi‑final, the United States edged out the Dominican Republic 2–1 after two controversial strike‑three calls.

• First call: A slow slider well below the knee was ruled a strike.
• Second call: A breaking ball clearly in the zone was also called strike‑three.

The Dominican players felt the impact immediately, yet their coach remained calm and reminded everyone that the game is about more than one pitch.

Why the Controversy Matters

Fans have long questioned why the Automated Ball‑Strike System (ABS) isn’t used in the WBC.

• In Major League Baseball, ABS will run through the regular season and playoffs this year, allowing umpires to review calls with a camera and reduce critical mistakes.
• Both the Dominican star and USA manager expressed hope that ABS will join next time.

Impact on Dominican Fans

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 welcomes new tools that might level the playing field in future tournaments.