MLB's latest rule change is an absolute nightmare for Aaron Judge haters

Good news, everyone! MLB's umpires are finally being held accountable for their lack of understanding of Aaron Judge's body.

Major League Baseball announced on Tuesday afternoon that, as expected, the ABS Challenge System (Automated Ball-Strike) will be instituted in 2026. This doesn't mean all umps will immediately become robots — though it would've been nice to ditch at least Brian Walsh. What it does mean is that each MLB team will now be able to challenge particularly egregious misses, and the pressure is firmly on the umpires to get it right. Their nasty work can now be undone in a snap.

The way the challenge system has been implemented is particularly interesting. Each team will be given two challenges per game, but if they win, they get to keep their challenge (times infinity). Essentially, they're given two mistakes per game.

And it won't be coaches or managers relaying challenge decisions. There won't be endless time to review the footage on a loop. All challenges will come from the batter, pitcher, or catcher, and the signal (a tapping of the helmet) has to come instantly. There will certainly be added drama where some player will be blamed for wasting a challenge early, causing his teammates to be on edge about trying (and failing) the rest of the way.

That means trusted veterans will probably get first rights of challenging borderline calls. For the Yankees, don't be surprised if Judge takes the bulk of the challenges on as captain. Not only does he know the zone, but he gets hit with the most egregious low strikes of anyone else in the lineup.

You thought Judge was tough to pitch to when he was getting rung up constantly on balls below his knees? Oh, it's really not going to be fun to face him when he has the right to force you closer to the center of the dish with one tap.

Yankees haters won't enjoy Aaron Judge feasting on the strike zone after ABS challenge system is installed

Judge, en route to a possible 50-homer season and second consecutive MVP win without the benefit of a fair strike zone, is going to dominate even further under the new regime.

Unlike other Rob Manfred innovations like the Ghost Runner, ABS isn't reserved exclusively for the regular season. You'll see it in postseason "games that matter," too.

MLB stars had better stay level-headed, so as not to waste their teammates' challenges on 50/50 calls. That ... probably won't be a problem for Judge, who doesn't get temperamental very often, and knows how tall he is. Good luck.