davidsf
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Post by davidsf on Oct 30, 2021 10:17:57 GMT -8
Saw this and want your thoughts: Major League Baseball considers dramatic change with "robot umpires"
They're already using the technology to show the TV viewers each pitch, now they're considering it to tell the plate ump what the pitch is; and they are already testing it in the minors: My opinion is, blown calls are part of the game, JUST like a batter blows a swing, or a pitcher loses control of a pitch. |
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Nov 1, 2021 8:57:41 GMT -8
I've never really been a fan of the idea that randomness belongs in a system when it can be reasonably eliminated.
Just because human error has always been part of something, doesn't mean it should continue to be so.
Baseball umpires are the most replaceable IMO. Ball /strike, fair / foul, out / safe...all pretty obvious stuff.
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Nov 1, 2021 10:20:23 GMT -8
must everything be automated? i enjoy chatting with the people at the fast food windows...!
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Nov 1, 2021 13:00:36 GMT -8
I've never really been a fan of the idea that randomness belongs in a system when it can be reasonably eliminated. Just because human error has always been part of something, doesn't mean it should continue to be so. Baseball umpires are the most replaceable IMO. Ball /strike, fair / foul, out / safe...all pretty obvious stuff. Those strike zone overlays suggest that home plate umpires are wrong 10% to 30% of the time when calling balls and strikes. In what other sport (or what other profession) would we tolerate that kind of error rate? |
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Nov 1, 2021 14:41:52 GMT -8
I've never really been a fan of the idea that randomness belongs in a system when it can be reasonably eliminated. Just because human error has always been part of something, doesn't mean it should continue to be so. Baseball umpires are the most replaceable IMO. Ball /strike, fair / foul, out / safe...all pretty obvious stuff. Those strike zone overlays suggest that home plate umpires are wrong 10% to 30% of the time when calling balls and strikes. In what other sport (or what other profession) would we tolerate that kind of error rate? I remember when they brought it to tennis on the white lines, it actually works there as who the hell can see the speed of a serve today..., like watching a bullet exit a chamber and claiming you saw it! |
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Nov 1, 2021 14:58:27 GMT -8
At least in tennis the white line is actually there. In baseball, there are no white lines that define the strike zone. It's an imaginary rectangle that exists only in the mind of the umpire and changes size and shape depending on the batter and how much he crouches. Furthermore, most pitches do not enter and exit the zone in a straight line, and determining where a 100-mph fastball or sharp slider cross an imaginary zone at an angle is beyond the ability of humans to do with any accuracy. If the integrity of the game is more important than its nostalgia, then replace them with technology that is far superior.
As a comparison, imagine football referees having to determine touchdowns with no goal line, or in-bounds/out-of-bounds receptions with no sidelines.
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Nov 1, 2021 17:30:05 GMT -8
And try calling a curve when sweat is dripping into your eye.
Way too much at stake to leave it to unnecessary human error.
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Nov 1, 2021 18:07:21 GMT -8
At least in tennis the white line is actually there. In baseball, there are no white lines that define the strike zone. It's an imaginary rectangle that exists only in the mind of the umpire and changes size and shape depending on the batter and how much he crouches. Furthermore, most pitches do not enter and exit the zone in a straight line, and determining where a 100-mph fastball or sharp slider cross an imaginary zone at an angle is beyond the ability of humans to do with any accuracy. If the integrity of the game is more important than its nostalgia, then replace them with technology that is far superior. As a comparison, imagine football referees having to determine touchdowns with no goal line, or in-bounds/out-of-bounds receptions with no sidelines. this would eliminate half the b*tching which is half the fun... I like the way the game is, batter, catchers, pitchers, umps all adding a dimension. Whats next a pitching machine? |
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Nov 1, 2021 18:19:19 GMT -8
If bitching is the objective, we could increase it even more by removing all the goal lines, sidelines, and yard markings from the football field. Let officials guess when a touchdown is scored or when a team has made ten yards for a first down.
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Nov 2, 2021 6:10:38 GMT -8
goal lines? no-one is saying remove the base lines, foul pole or outfield walls. why not start more of your criticism and critique there? the outfield walls of MLB. lets have every football field with a different configuration! maybe an end zone that runs at a slant, say on one side the field is 98 yards the other 102!! and then at midfield pull in the sidelines so its narrow and harder to get thru just like an hour glass!! oh what fun...
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Nov 2, 2021 6:34:04 GMT -8
What I'm saying is why have an imaginary strike zone that varies between umpires and their moods when technology can give us a real, consistent one? It just makes sense.
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SK80
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Post by SK80 on Nov 2, 2021 8:10:23 GMT -8
What I'm saying is why have an imaginary strike zone that varies between umpires and their moods when technology can give us a real, consistent one? It just makes sense. Understand that rational completely, there is much support behind it. Yet in over 150+ years it has been so embedded in the game that I am just fine with it as is. I like the part of the gamesmanship where batters know pitchers, pitchers know batters and both know umps and where they call the zone. There is a great argument at why should any one person interpret a defined zone...., for me, I answer, inside and outside should not be much of a debate, yet low and high zones yes when you say between the knees and letters. Should Altuve's strike zone be the same as Aaron Judge? Either way, I am of the belief it comes sooner than later. Technology in the end always wins for better or worse. |
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davidsf
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Post by davidsf on Nov 6, 2021 6:14:03 GMT -8
I've never really been a fan of the idea that randomness belongs in a system when it can be reasonably eliminated. Just because human error has always been part of something, doesn't mean it should continue to be so.Baseball umpires are the most replaceable IMO. Ball /strike, fair / foul, out / safe...all pretty obvious stuff. Bick: Conversely, just because we can replace something doesn't mean we should. Umpires, pitchers, catchers... are all skills one learns. I have long favored allowing athletes to compete to their highest competency level. An umpire who chronically makes bad calls won't last long. MDDad: Most of those blown calls aren't tolerated now. The batter, the catcher, the manager... the crowd... someone will get in your face about them, and especially at the MLB level, an ump with a chronic problem will get replaced. |
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MDDad
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Post by MDDad on Nov 6, 2021 6:38:11 GMT -8
The point is that they're NOT replaced. You can watch any MLB game from spring training through the World Series. If the telecast has a strikezone overlay, EVERY umpire misses an unacceptable number of ball-strike calls.
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Bick
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Post by Bick on Nov 6, 2021 7:25:08 GMT -8
Dave - why shouldn't we replace them if the technology makes the calls more accurate? What's the downside?
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