Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
“Baseball” has never been synonymous with “change.” But in recent years, Major League Baseball has transformed radically, and this season it has embraced technology via the ABS pitch-tracking system (also known as “robot umpires”). Has the experiment worked? Can baseball evolve in the 21st century without losing a piece of itself? Does the tech make the game less human? On this week’s “Galaxy Brain,” Charlie Warzel brings on Jimmy O’Brien, founder of Jomboy Media, to talk about baseball’s overhaul, how to become a lip-reading legend on YouTube, and why Americans love slow sports.
This episode of "Galaxy Brain" was produced by Renee Klahr and engineered by Miguel Carrascal. Our theme is by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor.
Audience survey: theatlantic.com/survey
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” newsletter: theatlantic.com/newsletters/sign-up/galaxy-brain/?utm_source=podcast-warzel
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” podcast on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/galaxy-brain/id1378618386
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” podcast on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/542WHgdiDTJhEjn1Py4J7n
Follow The Atlantic on Instagram: instagram.com/theatlantic/?hl=en
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at accounts.theatlantic.com/products/?utm_medium=cr&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=apple_podcasts
00:00 Intro
03:02 Interview with Jomboy
05:32 Why MLB Implemented ABS
09:28 How ABS is Changing the Game
12:00 Umpires in the New Era
15:32 Do We Still Need Umps?
17:43 Did Baseball Get Boring?
20:34 Jomboy's Role in Modernizing Baseball
23:40 Breaking Down the Breakdowns
27:46 How Jomboy Picks Clips
29:29 Is Baseball In Danger of Losing Itself?
31:31 Mount Rushmore of Jomboy Videos
32:55 Closing Thoughts and Credits
“Baseball” has never been synonymous with “change.” But in recent years, Major League Baseball has transformed radically, and this season it has embraced technology via the ABS pitch-tracking system (also known as “robot umpires”). Has the experiment worked? Can baseball evolve in the 21st century without losing a piece of itself? Does the tech make the game less human? On this week’s “Galaxy Brain,” Charlie Warzel brings on Jimmy O’Brien, founder of Jomboy Media, to talk about baseball’s overhaul, how to become a lip-reading legend on YouTube, and why Americans love slow sports.
This episode of "Galaxy Brain" was produced by Renee Klahr and engineered by Miguel Carrascal. Our theme is by Rob Smierciak. Claudine Ebeid is the executive producer of Atlantic audio, and Andrea Valdez is our managing editor.
Audience survey: theatlantic.com/survey
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” newsletter: theatlantic.com/newsletters/sign-up/galaxy-brain/?utm_source=podcast-warzel
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” podcast on Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/galaxy-brain/id1378618386
Subscribe to the “Galaxy Brain” podcast on Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/542WHgdiDTJhEjn1Py4J7n
Follow The Atlantic on Instagram: instagram.com/theatlantic/?hl=en
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at accounts.theatlantic.com/products/?utm_medium=cr&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=apple_podcasts
00:00 Intro
03:02 Interview with Jomboy
05:32 Why MLB Implemented ABS
09:28 How ABS is Changing the Game
12:00 Umpires in the New Era
15:32 Do We Still Need Umps?
17:43 Did Baseball Get Boring?
20:34 Jomboy's Role in Modernizing Baseball
23:40 Breaking Down the Breakdowns
27:46 How Jomboy Picks Clips
29:29 Is Baseball In Danger of Losing Itself?
31:31 Mount Rushmore of Jomboy Videos
32:55 Closing Thoughts and Credits
