\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
![\"Minnesota](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/69d4024c7b6bfaa451164623jpeg.jpg\")
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMinnesota Twins’ Josh Bell, right, signals for an ABS challenge on a called third strike, which was upheld, during the first inning of baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo\/Matt Krohn)<\/p>\n
The slightly longer games make sense. Even though an ABS challenge usually takes less than 15 seconds, the mini delays in the game can add up if several pitches are contested.<\/p>\n
One of MLB\u2019s big wins over the past decade is a rules package that debuted in 2023, which included a pitch clock that dramatically shortened games by roughly 25 minutes. Though there were scattered complaints about the changes, they\u2019ve been widely viewed as a success.<\/p>\n
The ABS system might be making a small dent in that progress, but game times are still considerable shorter than they were in the pre-pitch clock era. A nine-inning game lasted an average of 3:10 in 2021 \u2014 an all-time high.<\/p>\n
Triple threat<\/p>\n
Two-time All-Star Corbin Carroll is off to a good start again this season with a .327 batting average and 1.067 OPS, and the young star has developed a signature play that\u2019s increasingly rare in today\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\n The triple.<\/p>\n
The 25-year-old speedster leads the majors with three triples in just 14 games. He\u2019s paced the big leagues in triples over the past two seasons with 17 of in 2025 and 14 in 2024.<\/p>\n
The D-backs\u2019 home of Chase Field has a been a perfect fit for Carroll, featuring a deep power alley in right-center that forces outfielders to cover a lot of ground while he motors around the bases.<\/p>\n
Carroll is already sixth among active MLB players with 46 triples.<\/p>\n
Phillies bullpen looks strong<\/p>\n
Manager Rob Thomson realizes how fortunate the Philadelphia Phillies are to already have their bullpen lining up so smoothly in April, with depth and matchups and shutdown pitching, too.<\/p>\n
That includes reliable closer Jhoan Duran handling ninth-inning duties. He already has five saves and a 1.35 ERA<\/p>\n
The Philadelphia relievers surrendered only one earned run during the club\u2019s recent six-game trip, spanning 18 innings by the bullpen for a 0.50 ERA and .129 opponent batting average (8 for 62).<\/p>\n
Rookie top prospect Andrew Painter appreciates all of the relievers backing him. Painter gave up four runs in four innings in a game last week against the Giants, but the bullpen pitched five scoreless innings that gave the Phillies time to rally for a 6-4 win.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey stepped up, to go out there and throw up five more zeros after that,\u201d Painter said. \u201cOffense stepped up, I\u2019m super happy that everyone could pick me up.\u201d<\/p>\n
Trivia time<\/p>\n
Carroll is sixth among active MLB players in triples. Who are the top five?<\/p>\n
Who\u2019s hot?<\/p>\n
After a disappointing 2025 season, St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker is showing why he\u2019s considered one of the game\u2019s top young players. The 23-year-old has already hit seven homers this season, including six over the past eight games.<\/p>\n
Walker is batting .327 with a 1.138 OPS through 15 games, leading a Cardinals team that\u2019s off to a solid 8-7 start.<\/p>\n
Trivia answer<\/p>\n
\n\t\tWinnipeg Free Press | Newsletter\n\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Mike Trout 55, Starling Marte 55, Andrew McCutchen 50, Trea Turner 48, Amed Rosario 47.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP Baseball Writer Janie McCauley contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
AP MLB: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/mlb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"It could be argued that the Automated Ball-Strike system has been the MVP of Major League Baseball through…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":601246,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[435],"tags":[49,48,462,82],"class_list":["post-601245","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-mlb","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-mlb","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601245","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=601245"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/601245\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/601246"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=601245"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=601245"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=601245"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}