I saw the future of Major League Baseball on Tuesday night (July 15) at the All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta, and some aspects I liked, while others made me cringe at what I think could become part of the game.

Major League Baseball decided to use the All-Star Game, much like it did during Spring Training this year, to continue testing the Automated Balls and Strikes (ABS) System. As one who doesn’t waste his time on meaningless preseason games, it was my first experience as a fan with the ABS System, although I was surprised the players cared enough during an exhibition to use it. I was pleasantly pleased with it. I think it will help ensure the correct calls are made behind the plate, but I also like how MLB seems to want to limit it by only allowing each team two challenges at the beginning of the game. Successful challenges are retained, so theoretically there could be many per game, but it doesn’t seem that things could get out of control. Luckily, the process is also speedy. A pitch, which may only be challenged by a pitcher, catcher, or hitter with no input from the dugout, must be made immediately upon the umpire’s call, and within seconds, the ABS System will have the correct call. According to MLB.com, experimentation in the minor leagues has determined that a challenge call takes an average of 17 seconds of game time.

There were five challenges called in the All-Star game on Tuesday, and four of the player challenges ended up overturning incorrect calls by home plate umpire Dan Iassogna.

From my perspective, the system was very smooth in my first encounter with it, and I’d be surprised if the ABS System isn’t implemented within the game beginning next season. According to the AP, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said before the All-Star Game on Tuesday that the league’s 11-man competition committee will consider the system for the next season when they meet during the offseason.

Getting calls correct, while taking little time to do so, is a big win for baseball. In fact, the ABS System appears to be superior to the replay system, which has been in effect for a while, as video replay calls from baseball’s Replay Command Center in New York can often drag on, annoying viewers in the process.

While the ABS System has my full support as a baseball fan, it was the way the game ended that bothered me as a fan. When the All-Star Game ended nine innings in a 6-6 tie between the American League and National League, it led to the first-ever Swing Off to declare a winner in the game’s history. The rule was instituted in 2022, but because it hadn’t been used yet, I had forgotten about it and was a bit annoyed to see the game end in essentially a short-form home run derby.

Each manager picked three hitters from the team. However, because it was an All-Star game and many of the biggest stars in the game had already changed into street clothes or reportedly left the stadium altogether, it ultimately featured mainly players who were still in the game after nine innings. So, instead of the Swing Off starring Aaron Judge versus Shohei Ohtani for their respective leagues, it featured lesser-known names like Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Jonathan Aranda and Miami Marlins outfielder Kyle Stowers.

In the end, the National League won the Swing Off with the pop of Philadelphia Phillies designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, who homered on all three of his allotted pitches, and won the game’s M.V.P. honor, despite the official box score showing he went 0-for-2 on the night. And I’d be lying if I didn’t say it wasn’t at least some fun, and since it’s an exhibition game, I don’t really mind too much.

But here’s my fear … I think sometime in the future, MLB is going to institute this Swing Off as a method of ending games sooner. The league has already fussed with extra inning rules, by beginning extra innings with a ghost runner of the “Manfred Man” at second base, to score runs and end games quicker.

While I applaud baseball for not wanting games to go on forever - I think the pitch clock is one of the greatest rule implementations in sports history -  I would like to see baseball remain baseball. The ghost runner isn’t exactly that. The Swing Off definitely isn’t that.

I’ve never been a big fan of either soccer or hockey, so I’ve never quite understood why traditionalists within those fan bases dislike games ending with penalty kicks or shootouts, but now I get it. I would hate for games that count for something to end under a glorified batting practice.

I do think it’s coming, though. I don’t know when, but I think it’s coming. 

by Eric Fulton & Julian Spivey
The 2025 ESPY Awards, the largest fan-voted sports awards, will be held on Wednesday, July 16, at the Dolby Theater in Los Angeles. The telecast will be broadcast on ABC and then repeated on the ESPN networks about a gazillion times for the remainder of the week if history has taught us anything.
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Here are our picks for which athletes and teams we believe should be honored at the ESPYs: 
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Best Driver
Nominees: Joey Logano (NASCAR), Oscar Piastri (F1), Max Verstappen (F1), Alex Palou (IndyCar)

Pick: Alex Palou
I think Max Verstappen is probably going to win this award because F1 is more popular than IndyCar and more ESPN viewers watch F1, with it being broadcast on the network. But anyone other than Palou winning would be an absolute joke. He’s won two straight IndyCar titles and is well on his way to a third with his most dominant season yet, winning seven of the schedule’s first 12 races this season. He also won his first career Indianapolis 500 in May. JS

Best Golfer
Nominees: Maja Stark, Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Nelly Korda

Pick: Scottie Scheffler
Scottie Scheffler has had one of the greatest runs in golf history since the beginning of 2024. He won the PGA Championship in May, won the Olympic gold medal at last year’s Summer Games, is the most recent PGA Tour FedEx Cup winner, and has been the PGA Tour’s Player of the Year the previous three years running. JS
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Best Soccer Player
Nominees: Alexia Putellas, Lamine Yamal, Aitana Bonmati, Christian Pulisic

Pick: Christian Pulisic (AC Milan/USMNT)
Pulisic is widely considered the best men’s soccer player in the United States. He has scored 23 goals in two seasons with AC Milan. Pulisic has scored 32 goals in his career playing for the United States National team. EF

Best Tennis Player
Nominees: Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner

Pick: Coco Gauff
Coco Gauff won her second major singles title at this year’s French Open. She also won the 2024 WTA Finals, as well as the 2024 French Open Doubles. In the post-Serena Williams era, Gauff has become the face of American tennis. EF

Best NHL Player
Nominees: Nikita Kucherov (Tampa Bay Lightning), Cale Makar (Colorado Avalanche), Leon Draisaitl (Edmonton Oilers), Connor Hellebuyck (Winnipeg Jets)

Pick: Connor Hellebuyck
Hellebuyck has been considered the best goalie in the NHL today. He won the Vezina Trophy as the league’s best goaltender and the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. He led the NHL in goals against average at an even 2.00, won a league high 47 games, and recorded eight shutouts in leading Winnipeg to the best record in the regular season. EF

Best College Athlete – Women’s Sports
Nominees: Gretchen Walsh (Virginia Swimming), Kate Faasse (North Carolina Soccer), Olivia Babcock (Pittsburgh Volleyball), Juju Watkins (USC Basketball)

Pick: Juju Watkins
Despite injuring her knee in this year’s NCAA Tournament, Juju Watkins led USC to a top 10 finish at the end of the season. Watkins is expected to be the number one overall draft pick in the 2026 WNBA Draft. EF

Best College Athlete – Men’s Sports
Nominees: CJ Kirst (Cornell Lacrosse), Wyatt Henderson (Oklahoma State Wrestling), Travis Hunter (Colorado Football), Cooper Flagg (Duke Basketball)

Pick: Travis Hunter
Hunter was amazing for Colorado the last two years. Playing both offense and defense, Hunter led the Buffaloes to eight wins and won the 2024 Heisman Trophy. EF

Best WNBA Player
Nominees: A’ja Wilson (Las Vegas Aces), Breanna Stewart (New York Liberty), Napheesa Collier (Minnesota Lynx), Caitlin Clark (Indiana Fever)

Pick: Breanna Stewart
2024 was an incredible year for Stewart as she won both Olympic gold and a WNBA title in her first season with the New York Liberty. EF

Best MLB Player
Nominees: Tarik Skubal (Detroit Tigers), Shohei Ohtani (Los Angeles Dodgers), Aaron Judge (New York Yankees), Freddie Freeman (Los Angeles Dodgers)

Pick: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani continues to wow baseball fans around the globe, and he’s been doing so over the last year-plus without even having the ability to pitch. In 2024, he became the first player in MLB history to record a 50 home run/50 stolen base season. He was the 2024 National League M.V.P. and helped lead the Los Angeles Dodgers to the World Series title in his first season with the team. He’s well on his way to winning another M.V.P. halfway through the 2025 season. JS

Beat NBA Player
Nominees: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks), Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Pick: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
I truly believe Nikola Jokic is the best player in the NBA, but because Shai Gilgeous-Alexander won the M.V.P. honor this year, and more importantly backed it up by leading his Oklahoma City Thunder to the NBA title – something Jokic couldn’t do this year – I’ve relented and voted for SGA. JS

Best NFL Player
Nominees: Patrick Surtain II (Denver Broncos), Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills), Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles), Lamar Jackson (Baltimore Ravens)

Pick: Saquon Barkley
I don’t give a damn if Josh Allen won the NFL M.V.P., Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley had the best season in the NFL, and he helped lead his team to Super Bowl glory. The NFL M.V.P. may have unfairly become a QB-only honor, but that doesn’t mean the ESPY for Best NFL Player has to, as well. JS

Best Comeback Athlete
Nominees: Mallory Swanson (Women’s Soccer), Suni Lee (Gymnastics), Gabriel Landeskog (NHL), Lindsey Vonn (Skiing)

Pick: Gabriel Landeskog
Landeskog, a 2022 Stanley Cup Champion with the Colorado Avalanche, missed nearly three full seasons with injuries. He made a return to the Avalanche at the end of this past regular season and played his first playoff action since 2022. EF

Best Record-Breaking Performance:
Nominees: Alexander Ovechkin (NHL), Kevin Durant (Olympic Basketball), Caitlin Clark (WNBA), Gene Auriemma (NCAA Basketball)

Pick: Alex Ovechkin becoming NHL All-time Goals Leader
A record many thought would never be broken, Ovechkin broke Wayne Gretzky’s record near the end of this past regular season. Now, he is poised to become the first player in NHL history with not only 900 goals, but possibly 1000 goals before he retires. EF

Best Championship Performance
Nominees: Rory McIlroy (Masters – Golf), Freddie Freeman (World Series – MLB), Stephen Curry (Olympic Basketball), Simone Biles (Olympic Gymnastics All-Around)

Pick: Stephen Curry
The United States Men’s Basketball team would not have won a gold medal at the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics if it weren’t for Stephen Curry putting the team on his back in the late stages of the Games. The only thing Curry had left to do on his basketball resume was win an Olympic gold medal and he saw to it, almost single-handedly at some points. JS

Best Athlete – Women’s Sports
Nominees: Gabby Thomas (Track & Field), Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (Track & Field), A’Ja Wilson (WNBA), Simone Biles (Gymnastics)

Pick: Simone Biles
One of the greatest athletes in Olympic history, Biles won two more golds in last summer in Paris in what possibly could be her last Olympic games. EF

Best Athlete – Men’s Sports
Nominees: Saquon Barkley (NFL), Josh Allen (NFL), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (NBA), Shohei Ohtani (MLB)

Pick: Shohei Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani is the only one of these four nominees seemingly breaking records in his sport each and every season he sets foot on the field. JS

Best Team
Nominees: University of Connecticut (NCAA Women’s Basketball), U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team, University of North Carolina (NCAA Lacrosse), Philadelphia Eagles (NFL), Ohio State (NCAA Football), New York Liberty (WNBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Florida Panthers (NHL), Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA)

Pick: Oklahoma City Thunder
I’m a baseball first fan, but let’s face it – the Los Angeles Dodgers were supposed to win the World Series. So, I’m going with the NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder for Best Team. The Thunder were the best team in the league from start to finish and capped it off with the first championship in team history (sort of – we’re not counting the Seattle SuperSonics here) in June. What’s most impressive about the Thunder is that it's one of the youngest teams in the league, and the team’s camaraderie and unselfish play are a nice example for kids everywhere. JS