Automated strike zone?

[_sturt_]

Count me as a fan of getting the calls right and getting the calls consistently called right. It's time.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/sports/baseball/more-machine-than-man-an-electric-umpires-call-of-the-future.html



http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-automated-strike-zone-20150810-story.html

[tomterp]

It's an obvious situation for a pilot program.  Try it in low A for a few seasons, long enough to work out the kinks. 

[JCA-CrystalCity]

truly a no brainer for me. 

[HalfSmokes]

But what about crafty veterans who need enormous zones?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

But what about crafty veterans who need enormous zones?

remove Glavine from the HOF.

[PowerBoater69]

17 bad calls today as of the 2nd inning of the 2nd game. Seventeen is just ridiculous. 13 bad calls against the Nats, including 11 in a row and still counting.

https://twitter.com/NationalsUmp

[mitlen]

No

[_sturt_]

remove Glavine from the HOF.

 

[Natsinpwc]

I vote yes. As long as they can adjust for different player sizes and strides.

[Mathguy]

No - why decrease the human element in baseball.

If you want to get rid of home plate umpire roles, why not just go further and develop machines to replace pitchers ?  Machines could be developed to throw different pitches, at varying speeds, all programed to allow the manager to control pitches.  The batter still wouldn't know if a fastball or curve was coming.

[HalfSmokes]

Totally the same thing, replacing a player and improving officiating are clearly related

[spidernat]

No - why decrease the human element in baseball.

If you want to get rid of home plate umpire roles, why not just go further and develop machines to replace pitchers ?  Machines could be developed to throw different pitches, at varying speeds, all programed to allow the manager to control pitches.  The batter still wouldn't know if a fastball or curve was coming.

[PowerBoater69]

Best part about roboump will be that teams will be able to show pitch track data on the big screen in real time. Same as Gameday only faster.

[Squab]

No - why decrease the human element in baseball.

The human element of baseball is obviously what makes the game great.

Human element in the enforcement of the rules of the game? I don't think anyone really wants that.

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm kind of amazed at the margin here.  I'd like to see some sort of poll among fans more generally.

[HalfSmokes]

I'm surprised there's so much support for non-automated, are people really fans of preening umpires with signature out calls?

[JCA-CrystalCity]

I'm surprised there's so much support for non-automated, are people really fans of preening umpires with signature out calls?

I'm waiting for Minty and Linty to weigh in.  As catchers, I'm guessing they like things as they are.

[nfotiu]

I'd like to see how a limited tennis style insta challenge thing would work.

[OldChelsea]

No.

[imref]

i voted no.  I think it would make it a truly weird game to watch if a computer called balls and strikes.   

[_sturt_]

I think the previous reference to tennis applies... it's 2016, and imo, just like we pretty readily got used to it watching Wimbledon or the US Open, my sense is that we'd probably get used to it after just the first game... particularly so, given that we're now so used now to seeing the technology used anyhow pretty much every inning (those of us watching on TV, that is).

[HalfSmokes]

i voted no.  I think it would make it a truly weird game to watch if a computer called balls and strikes.   

The worst part about watching a game is the umpire - I'd happily adapt them them being forced to get calls right

[mimontero88]

I voted yes but I actually like a hybrid system where a manager can challenge a certain number of ball and strike calls per game and that number is all they get regardless of whether they get the challenge right or wrong.  I wouldn't want to lose the ump yelling the call after every pitch or the punch out motion or any of the charm that those calls give to the game.  But it is important to get the calls right in high leverage situations.

[HalfSmokes]

I think a compromise would be letting teams show the box on the scoreboard, a stadium of pissed off fans who know they just blew a call may do.away with some of the worst zones

[_sturt_]

My two cents, I think the damage (or what others may consider "damage") is already done.

As the box continues to show up on MASN and all other networks more and more, it will become more and more clear that that horse is out of the barn.