Home Bill Miller Umpire Bill Miller's open microphone captures comment during ABS challenge in Giants-Guardians spring training game

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Mar 23, 2026

Umpire Bill Miller's open microphone captures comment during ABS challenge in Giants-Guardians spring training game

On March 9, 2024, during a spring training game between the San Francisco Giants and Cleveland Guardians at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona, home plate umpire Bill Miller's microphone remained active during an Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) challenge review.[1][2]

The Giants led 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning with two outs and an 0-2 count on Guardians outfield prospect Sean Mooney, who represented the potential tying run at the plate against Giants pitcher Robbie Ray.[1][3] Miller called a low sinker from Ray a ball, prompting Giants catcher Patrick Bailey to challenge the call.[2]

Addressing the crowd, Miller announced the challenge. His microphone then picked up his remark, "Please be a strike," before he muted it.[1][2] Bailey reacted visibly on the broadcast.

The review confirmed Miller's original call as correct by three-tenths of an inch. Mooney struck out swinging on the next two pitches.[1][2]

Two pitches later, Mooney struck out swinging, ending the threat. The Giants won the game 4-3 in 10 innings before an announced attendance of 6,410.[3]

The ABS challenge system, allowing each team two challenges per game initiated only by the batter, catcher or pitcher almost immediately upon a call, was used at all 2024 spring training Cactus League and Grapefruit League games.[4] Strike zones are calibrated to each batter's height using Hawk-Eye technology.[4]

Ray, a left-handed pitcher who won the 2021 American League Cy Young Award during his time with the Toronto Blue Jays, allowed one run over 3 2/3 innings.[3] Bailey, a rookie catcher for the Giants in 2023, started behind the plate.