Phillies have a big ABS challenge problem they must fix ASAP

The Philadelphia Phillies are going through some real struggles right now. They've lost six of their eight series since the MLB All-Star break in Philadelphia.

Most notably, they've gone from holding a Wild Card spot to being on the outside looking in. After making an incredible comeback earlier this year, the Phillies are once again behind in the postseason hunt. They have to turn things around, and soon.

One of the ways to turn things around is to improve in a key area that The Athletic's Charlotte Varnes pointed out as being a major issue: their use of ABS challenges. It's been incredibly inefficient, and the Phillies must correct their use of pitch challenges ASAP.

Phillies need to fix ABS challenge problems ASAP

J.T. Realmuto is actually very good at challenges as a catcher, getting 70% of his challenges correct. The issue is that he's not challenging nearly enough, sitting at just 60 challenges this season.

"But, given his success rate, he needs to challenge more," Varnes writes. "It could be a difference-maker in what looks to be a stressful stretch run."

This is the mindset the Phillies need to have. Even if it's not the sole issue with the team, fixing their ABS challenge issues could be the difference in a win or two, which might be enough to get into the postseason.

Realmuto needs to challenge more, but there is a reason why the Phillies haven't been able to do so this season: their hitters are burning challenges early.

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"Early in the game, I don't like to waste them too often," Realmuto said. "Just like today, we wasted two early, and then there were three spots late in the game that I would have challenged, but we didn't have a challenge left."

This is a real issue for the Phillies, and Realmuto's point is a massive one. Phillies hitters, including Bryce Harper (4-for-10 on first-inning challenges according to Varnes) and Kyle Schwarber, among others, challenge early in the game far too often.

It's not efficient to use a challenge so early in the game unless the call is extremely egregious, or if it's the difference between a chance to score a run or not.

Challenging pitches early is rarely worth the risk, especially when, as Realmuto notes, there are pitches late in the game that warrant challenging.

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Considering how taxed the Phillies' pitching staff has been lately, being able to utilize challenges late to get balls turned into strikes is far more important than the occasional strike turned into a ball.

This ABS issue isn't the sole reason for the team's recent slide, but it's certainly been one of the underlying factors behind the club's struggles this season.

Things need to change for the Phillies regarding their ABS challenge usage, and ironically, they won't have any during the Field of Dreams game on Thursday night against the Minnesota Twins. Maybe Phillies hitters can change their approach from this game onward, as fewer challenges early from hitters could make a huge difference.

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