Inside the Parker - Early Returns on ABS, 53 Straight Mets Opening Days with Ben Bongiovi + Author Rob 'The Pitching Ninja' Friedman

In this episode of Inside the Parker, Rob Parker celebrates 40 years of covering Major League Baseball with a deep dive into the 2026 season's early moments. The show opens with a hot take on Connor Griffin’s immediate call-up to the Pittsburgh Pirates, highlighting the shift toward faster player development. Parker then examines the rollout of the new Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, noting its early success with a 54% overturn rate and mixed emotions about replacing human umpires. A heartfelt segment honors Ben Bongiovi, a lifelong Queens resident and the biggest Mets fan in the borough, who has attended 53 consecutive Opening Days—through pandemic lockdowns and personal milestones. Parker shares a nostalgic reflection on his own first MLB game in 1986, marking the beginning of his legendary career. The episode closes with a dynamic interview with Rob Friedman, author of the new book *Unhittable*, who explores how modern pitching has evolved through data, technology, and biomechanics, comparing legends like Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden to today’s engineered pitchers. The conversation underscores a tension between tradition and innovation in baseball’s future.