Francona's ABS Challenge Strategy: Veterans Sit This One Out

Reds manager Terry Francona has a clear message for his veteran players regarding the use of ABS challenges during spring training: save them for the younger guys. Francona explained his reasoning, stating, "I'm OK with seeing our younger kids do it because they've done it. It's not a strategy for [the MLB teams], so why work on it? I don't want to make a farce of anything, but we're here getting ready for a season and that's not helping us get ready." He emphasized that the focus should be on preparing for the regular season, not experimenting with a challenge system that won't be a factor in actual games.
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Francona's approach highlights the different priorities between veteran and younger players in spring training. While younger players might benefit from experience with the ABS challenge system, veterans are better served focusing on refining their core skills and building chemistry with their teammates. The Reds manager clearly wants to avoid any distractions that could detract from the team's overall preparation, prioritizing the long-term goal of a successful season over short-term experimentation with a rule that won't be in play when it counts.