It seems like a good idea but in general it would violate the spirit of the game. Human error wasn’t an issue before the advent of video that captured what was a strike or not, who was safe or not, who checked their swing or not. Pitchers painting the corners has been a trademark of pitchers like Maddux.
Not only that, but human error is part of the game. You’re playing against both your opponent and the umps. E.g. catchers trying to fake out the umps by snapping their mitts into the strike zone when a pitch falls outside it.
I work as an analyst for a MLB team. Bad calls are frustrating, but automated systems are not foolproof. It's been a few years, but there have been MLB games where the system is down completely. Can you imagine having to delay a game to get a tech out there? Woof.
But really, I think we give umps an apple watch or something that buzzes whenever the ball is a strike. That data could be available very near real time. And then, once the umps get real time feedback, you never tell anyone you're doing it. The umpires association would be down for keeping it under wraps, as it keeps the robots away, the old school "human element" folks would be happy, and the calls would get better!
Do you have any idea how many bad calls there are? I read about a study by a university that said something like 11% of ball/strike calls were missed.
Its absolutely amazing to me that this tracking data is just being displayed for everyone except the umpires. Apparently just to troll us with how bad they are.
I think pretending it's just the umpires is just sad and won't work out because everyone will know. We will notice that they are no longer making so many horrible calls.
Honestly if the MLB doesn't get robot umpires going for the strikezone within the next few years, I may start watching Wiffleball exclusively instead. Much more modern game. An average group of kids who know that plastic and PVC pipe exists are able to have a fun, safe and fair time.
It's like most people are trapped in the 19th century.
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[ 2.7 ms ] story [ 42.1 ms ] threadNot only that, but human error is part of the game. You’re playing against both your opponent and the umps. E.g. catchers trying to fake out the umps by snapping their mitts into the strike zone when a pitch falls outside it.
But really, I think we give umps an apple watch or something that buzzes whenever the ball is a strike. That data could be available very near real time. And then, once the umps get real time feedback, you never tell anyone you're doing it. The umpires association would be down for keeping it under wraps, as it keeps the robots away, the old school "human element" folks would be happy, and the calls would get better!
Its absolutely amazing to me that this tracking data is just being displayed for everyone except the umpires. Apparently just to troll us with how bad they are.
I think pretending it's just the umpires is just sad and won't work out because everyone will know. We will notice that they are no longer making so many horrible calls.
Honestly if the MLB doesn't get robot umpires going for the strikezone within the next few years, I may start watching Wiffleball exclusively instead. Much more modern game. An average group of kids who know that plastic and PVC pipe exists are able to have a fun, safe and fair time.
It's like most people are trapped in the 19th century.