Yankees can't continue bush league behavior with umpires in wake of ABS advantage

The criticism often leveled against the New York Yankees is that the atmosphere can often feel like a stuffy boardroom. While not entirely the case, the players tend to take on the buttoned-up persona of the organization, refraining from the demonstrative displays of emotion that are common among other teams.

One big change this year is the implementation of the ABS challenge system, which should, in theory, drastically reduce the ball-strike blowups at the plate, if not eliminate them entirely. The Yankees, by virtue of having one of the tallest and best players in the game, stand to gain substantially from this. In fact, Aaron Judge has already shown how valuable it can be for him, even if he won his challenge by the slimmest of margins.

With that said, the team's showing during the series opener against the Mariners was downright embarrassing.

We've seen some umpires already have real trouble with the new system, like C.B. Bucknor, whotried to ring up Eugenio Suarez twice on back-to-back pitches, in addition to a number of other overturned calls during a game between the Red Sox and the Reds over the weekend. In Seattle, home plate umpire Mike Estabrook had his own Bucknor-like moment, and for that, the Yankees let him have it.

Even though Yankees hitters kept winning their challenges, it didn't stop them from barking at Estabrook. Newsflash, guys, this whole system is here, so you don't have to argue with Blue about the borderline calls. Keep it up, and it will cost you.

The Yankees' constant griping despite winning ABS challenges could prove costly if they don't knock it off

Pre-ABS, you could understand a team getting frustrated when an umpire is clearly missing calls. Now, though, you can simply challenge the call and move on. If you're right, you keep your challenge and can save it for the next fight. If you're wrong, well, the proof is right in front of you.

Arguing with an umpire when you have the challenge recourse at your disposal is just a bad look. For one, you just delay the game longer to exchange unnecessary words. Even more important, you risk crossing a line and having a key player ejected for what, exactly?

You also do yourself no favors. Bark at the home plate umpire too much, and don't be surprised when a bang-bang play at the plate doesn't go your way. Complain too much, and watch the other umpires make questionable calls against you. After all, they know they'll get their turn behind the plate soon enough. Even if there are recourses for subsequent bad calls, you're just inviting bad karma - and, again, a possible ejection.

Some of these are truly difficult calls, too. For example, Giancarlo Stanton's challenge of Luis Castillo's would-be strikeout pitch in the fourth inning missed the bottom of the zone by less than a tenth of an inch. It's not reasonable to expect the ump to be perfect with such a minuscule distance between the ball and the zone.

Yankees hitters have been both the most aggressive and the most effective at challenging these borderline calls in the young season. It's time to take solace in that. Challenge the pitch and move on.

This is one case where the stoicism of the past versions of the team is warranted. Want to let some emotion out? Hit a dinger and punctuate it with a massive bat flip. But nonsensically yelling at an umpire? There's no place for that type of behavior.