It is time for Major League Baseball umpires to stop calling balls and strikes

[Machiavelli]

Cork Gaines
Business Insider
September 6, 2015

Having umpires call balls and strikes is one of the most fundamental aspects of both the game of baseball and the profession of Major League Baseball umpires. But as we get better at recognizing what is really a strike it is becoming painfully obvious that it is time for the umps to give up the responsibility.

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[bkepley]

Cork Gaines
Business Insider
September 6, 2015
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I guess it's true but I think being a conservative I'd leave it alone for now.

[sinkspur]

This is ridiculous.

Let's just turn the whole damned game over to machines and eliminate umpires altogether.

Baseball is slow enough without second-guessing officials at every turn.  I only watch games in September and October when they mean something. The rest of the year? 

Meh.

[Scottftlc]

I think this is going to at least he tested in Spring Training in the next few years, the technology is actually very accurate and rather interesting.

[sinkspur]

I think this is going to at least he tested in Spring Training in the next few years, the technology is actually very accurate and rather interesting.

As long as it's limited to two challenges per game and, if the team loses its first challenge, there is no second challenge.

I played high school baseball and I was always taught "If it's close, you swing."  Many of these hot dog multi-millionaire players bitch and gripe about everything.

[bkepley]

As long as it's limited to two challenges per game and, if the team loses its first challenge, there is no second challenge.

I played high school baseball and I was always taught "If it's close, you swing."  Many of these hot dog multi-millionaire players bitch and gripe about everything.

I don't think there would be any challenges for balls and strikes.

[sinkspur]

I don't think there would be any challenges for balls and strikes.

According to the article above, there would be.

I can see games being decided by out-or-safe calls, but not by balls and strikes. There is no urgency for this except from statiscal aholes like Nate Silver and his geeks at Five-Thirtyeight.

[bkepley]

According to the article above, there would be.

I can see games being decided by out-or-safe calls, but not by balls and strikes. There is no urgency for this except from statiscal aholes like Nate Silver and his geeks at Five-Thirtyeight.

Ok I understand now...kinda busy..I thought the idea was that the tech would call the balls and strikes period.

[bkepley]

BTW....Cards vs. Pirates on ESPN at 8:00. ;)

[DCPatriot]

A challenged ball and strike based upon what that ridiculous 'box' hologram they use is stupid.

It's not where the ball hits the catcher's mitt.   It's where it crosses the plane on the plate or on the black.

I've seen sliders break the plane, which are caught ankle high off the plate.

The better solution is to fire umpires who suck at it.  Instead, they seem to be tenured like unions protect teachers and professors.

[sinkspur]

A challenged ball and strike based upon what that ridiculous 'box' hologram they use is stupid.

It's not where the ball hits the catcher's mitt.   It's where it crosses the plane on the plate or on the black.

I've seen sliders break the plane, which are caught ankle high off the plate.

The better solution is to fire umpires who suck at it.  Instead, they seem to be tenured like unions protect teachers and professors.

They do.  Umps are judged on their performance. Most of them do a pretty good job, but I've sen a few who have off nights, whose strike zones change during the game, who are real pricks when challenged and give anybody a thumb who protests.

Hotheaded umps should be driven out of baseball. No place for them.

[DCPatriot]

They do.  Umps are judged on their performance. Most of them do a pretty good job, but I've sen a few who have off nights, whose strike zones change during the game, who are real pricks when challenged and give anybody a thumb who protests.

Hotheaded umps should be driven out of baseball. No place for them.

I was holding my breath in last night's NATS win over the BRAVES.

The count was 3-0 on Harper and on each of the strike calls making the count 'full', Harper didn't wait for the ump's call, but immediately dropped the bat and bent over in the box and unhooked his shin protector.

On the strike two call, he exchanged words with the umpire that lasted much too long to suit me.  He could have been tossed.

On the 3-2 pitch he hit a double into the right field corner and then glared at home plate.

....today, Jayson Werth hit a HR with 2 runners on base, to left with two on making it 5-0 in the 2nd inning.  When he crossed home plate, he exchanged high fives with everybody including Rendon who as next up, but completely ignored Harper who was on deck after Rendon.  Never even made eye contact with him.

....then when Harper hit his 34th HR the next inning, Jayson Werth was the ONLY player not in the dugout when Harper returned.

Makes me think Werth gave Harper a talking to and Harper didn't like it over the thing with the home plate ump the previous nite.