Baseball has always had a human side, like when parents teach their kids how to deal with bad calls and keep going. But with MLB umpires missing more than 27,000 calls in 2024 and only getting 92.46% of ball-strike calls right, the sport is under more and more pressure to change. As technology gets ready to change America’s favorite sport, one well-known baseball family member has given a view that perfectly sums up the funny and wise side of this big change.

Sheel Seidler, the widow of former Padres owner Peter Seidler, gave a refreshingly honest view on this technological change. “When my kids get mad about a bad call, I tell them: it all evens out in the end. So chillllll. That’s baseball—and life. It’s about trust and faith,” Seidler posted on social media. Her worry goes beyond the diamond: “With Robo Umps coming, maybe there’ll be fewer mistakes and less anger at Blue…but if my kids think that means video replay at home over who hit who and who’s at fault, I’m not opening that can of worms.”

The Major League Baseball competition committee approved the automated ball/strike system for use in 2026. This is a big change in how the game makes its most controversial calls. The system lets teams make two challenges per game, and more in extra innings. The plate umpires still do their usual job. During spring training testing, teams won 52.2% of their challenges. This shows that the technology could help cut down on the 61.5% of ejections that are currently caused by disagreements over balls and strikes.

Commissioner Rob Manfred emphasized that player input shaped the final decision, stating that “the strong preference from players for the challenge format over using the technology to call every pitch was a key factor.” The system has been tested a lot in minor leagues since 2019. It shows how MLB is carefully balancing the need for new technology with the need to keep baseball’s traditional character while also addressing concerns about accuracy, since current umpires only get about 94% of pitches right. Now, let’s shift to the current big news coming out of Los Angeles.

MLB’s Dodgers secure fourth straight NL West crown

Teams are still looking for old-fashioned hardware while MLB gets ready for its tech transformation. The Los Angeles Dodgers won their fourth straight NL West title on Thursday night, beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 8-0. This game showed why this team is still baseball’s most consistent powerhouse.

The team’s biggest stars had big games on offense in the win that clinched the division. Freddie Freeman hit the game-winning home runs, one in the first inning and another in the fourth. Shohei Ohtani put on his own fireworks show by hitting his 54th home run of the season into the outfield pool. This tied his career high and the Dodgers’ single-season record.

This is the Dodgers’ 12th division title in 13 seasons, which makes them a modern dynasty that not many teams can match. Their 90-69 record got them into the playoffs with the Brewers, Phillies, and Mariners, but it hasn’t been easy. The team’s bullpen has been a problem all season, as shown by their 5-4 win over Arizona on Wednesday, which needed eight different pitchers over 11 innings.

The Dodgers won the division, but they will have a hard time in the playoffs as the No. 3 NL seed. They will not get a first-round bye because they are behind Philadelphia and Milwaukee. As October approaches, the pressure is on, and the bullpen isn’t always reliable. All-Star catcher Will Smith’s availability for the postseason is also up in the air.