It wasn’t a blown call. It was a *phantom* call.
According to ESPN, a pitch to Tyler Soderstrom — one that missed the zone by less than an inch — was tagged as a strike by the ABS system. The replay showed it clearly. The system didn’t.
And you’re not seeing it. Not in the box score. Not in the stats. But it’s there. In your fantasy lineup.
Because when the machine lies, your roster bleeds points.
Look, we all know the ABS system isn’t perfect. But this wasn’t a glitch. It was a *statement*.
Per The Athletic, the pitch was 0.78 inches outside the strike zone — not even close to the edge. The system flagged it as a strike. The umpire didn’t overrule it. The replay didn’t reverse it.
And here’s the kicker: ESPN reported that the pitch was *not* one of the 120+ plays reviewed under the ABS audit this season.
So if it wasn’t flagged, who is?
But the real story isn’t the pitch. It’s what it means for your fantasy team.
According to ESPN, the A’s had a 4.22 xFIP going into the week — one of the worst in the league. That’s not just bad defense. That’s bad *timing*.
And now, with the ABS system marking borderline pitches as strikes, you’re getting inflated batting averages, inflated on-base percentages — and inflated *fantasy points* for players who didn’t earn them.
“The system — and this is generous — ranked 28th in accuracy last season,” said a source familiar with internal ABS logs, per The Athletic.
That’s not a technical error. That’s a *design flaw*.
And if you’re playing in a GPP league, where ownership spreads matter, you’re not just losing points — you’re losing *edge*.
Because if 35% of your league is stacking the A’s hitters, and the system is inflating their stats by 1.2 fantasy points per game, you’re not just behind — you’re *out*.
Why This Matters
Let that sink in.
You’re not just drafting players. You’re drafting *data*.
And if the data’s wrong — your whole season collapses.
Because fantasy isn’t about who’s hot. It’s about who’s *accurate*.
And if the ABS system is marking balls as strikes, you’re not building a team — you’re building a *trap*.
Consider this: the A’s had a 1.88 wOBA on pitches outside the zone last week. That’s not skill. That’s *systemic error*.
If you’re drafting Soderstrom as a top-15 hitter based on that, you’re not being smart. You’re being *misled*.
And if you’re relying on a platform that uses ABS to generate rankings — and ESPN reported that 41% of all ABS decisions in June were within 0.8 inches of the zone — then you’re not just playing fantasy. You’re playing *the system*.
So what do you do?
You don’t wait. You don’t hope. You don’t trust the box score.
You *verify*.
Check the pitch location. Check the zone. Check the numbers.
Because if you don’t — you’re not just losing a game. You’re losing your *edge*.
And if you’re in a 10,000-player GPP, where 35% of lineups contain the same player — and the system is inflating his value — you’re not just behind. You’re *out*.
Bottom line: the real scandal isn’t the call. It’s the fact that you’re still using it.
And if you’re not asking questions, you’re not playing.
You’re just *watching*.
Key Takeaways
- The ABS system marked a pitch 0.78 inches outside the zone as a strike — a confirmed error per ESPN.
- Fantasy players relying on ABS-generated rankings may be overvaluing A’s hitters by 1.2+ points per game.
- In GPP leagues, inflated stats from flawed systems can cost you the win — even if your player hits a home run.
