MLB Off-Topic

[SPTO]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Why not increase umpire training,, recruitment, and accountability?

Send Hernandez to the minors

There's a few certified umpiring schools in Florida and I see on the ticker of MLB-N a call for prospective umpires. I believe there's one such event this weekend actually.

Do you really believe this?

I'll expand on countryboy's answer a bit. The strike zone has CONTINUOUSLY been changing and adapted over the years. It's true that it hasn't been officially changed since 1996 though MLB has placed emphasis on calling a lower or higher strike zone at various times since that date. Here is a chronological list of strike zone rules changes:

Baseball Almanac

Here's a Baseball Prospectus article from 2018 that argues that going to a robo strike zone isn't as simple as you'd like it to be:

Robo Strike Zone: It's not as easy as you think


As for enforcement of the zone it HAS changed even though the rules haven't on paper. Here's an article from early 2017


The use of the strike box on baseball broadcasts DOES muddy the waters a bit and causes even more arguments about balls and strikes from fans and writers. It's not to say that it's all bad but to say that it has no effect would be foolish.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It just doesn't have much to do with the issue to me, I've been yelling at umpire inconsistency since before I could form words. The idea that people didn't have a problem with umpires until the strike zones is new to me.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

It just doesn't have much to do with the issue to me, I've been yelling at umpire inconsistency since before I could form words. The idea that people didn't have a problem with umpires until the strike zones is new to me.

Nobody said that nobody had a problem with it prior to the strike zones being on tv.

I put the word problem in quotation marks because up until the strike zones were put on tv, there wasn't this outcry for baseball to switch to robot umpires/electronic strike zone.

Fans, players, and coaches yelled at the umpires, voiced their displeasure and the game went on.

[DieHardYankee26]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That was the only choice they had, there was no alternative.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

That was the only choice they had, there was no alternative.

Maybe so.

I was only responding to your post in which you mistook/misunderstood my usage of "problem" in my previous post.


I stated my opinion and I've explained the reason(s) for my opinion. I'm done justifying my opinion to you simply because you stand on the other side of the argument.

[Watson]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Nobody said that nobody had a problem with it prior to the strike zones being on tv.

I put the word problem in quotation marks because up until the strike zones were put on tv, there wasn't this outcry for baseball to switch to robot umpires/electronic strike zone.

Fans, players, and coaches yelled at the umpires, voiced their displeasure and the game went on.

Because there wasn't a means to do so. That technology came a little before detailed pitch tracking.

I get liking a variable strike zone, but umpires need to be accountable for blown calls. I'm all for robot umps as a countermeasure. Each called ball or strike that's called within an inch and a half inch of the zone (50% of a baseball's diameter) is completely the umpire's call to make. But if the ball misses by more than two inches then the system trips and alerts the umpire that he made an objectively bad call. It's the same idea as VAR in soccer, it's sent via an instant buzz to a special watch/band.

If the umps reverses the call, no harm no foul. But if they stick to their call, then it goes against their record. So many blown calls and they're stripped of home plate duties/docked pay. So many more and they're demoted to the minor.

On the flip side of the coin it makes rewarding good umpires easier. If you have the least alerts sent to you it means you're the best ump in the league and worthy of a world series assignment.

A happy medium.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Not once did I claim that umpires were perfect these days nor that they shouldn't be held accountable for erroneous blown calls.

I simply stated that despite its flaws, I still prefer the current systems (human umpires making the decision) versus that of a machine.

[WaitTilNextYear]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I simply stated that despite its flaws, I still prefer the current systems (human umpires making the decision) versus that of a machine.

I agree with this. I prefer the snap decisions made by humans over the cold efficiency of machines in the sports I follow. This is one of the reasons I also dislike replay (or at least replay beyond anything but fair/foul HR calls). There is a [sometimes uneasy] camaraderie between umps and players/managers that helps make the game what it is. The game wouldn't have the same soul without it and we might end up just debating the calibration of the umpiring machines anyway.

I would, however, like for MLB to find, train, and employ only the best of the best as MLB umpires. Pay them more. Make it a really lucrative thing to become a great umpire. The only robot umpiring system that is needed is one behind the scenes to help grade the umpires. I'm sure this system is already in place, but the umpires union makes it hard to enact any real consequences for the Angel Hernandez's and Joe West's out there. But with increased pay and perks, maybe the umpires union would accept harsher sanctions against umps that blow calls too often.

[Sportsforever]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Having watched the clips of Hernandez blown call(s) and then reading a few articles, one thing that causes it (not that it excuses it) is Gary Sanchez and his "stabbing" at the ball. He is an awful receiver and gives the impression that the pitch has missed or he's trying to steal a call. I think in each of these cases Hernandez got caught looking at the catcher's glove/reaction instead of where the ball actually crossed the plate.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

I don't know how umpires don't just ignore a catcher's framing, or lack thereof. I always did.

The weirder thing for me though is when it seems that hitters are more upset at a call when a catcher pulls a Sanchez or something, as if they are going by the framing. I don't know about you guys, but even when looking pitches in, I don't often recall looking all the way back at the catcher. The only exception would be a ball in the dirt when I have to determine whether to motion that a runner should advance.

[countryboy]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well there you go. We don't need robot umpires, we just need Blzer to train them.

Problem solved.

[Blzer]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Well there you go. We don't need robot umpires, we just need Blzer to train them.

Problem solved.

I just don't get what they are being sold by. The pitch has already crossed the plate. Never made sense to me.

I get (but don't fully agree with) the idea that some umpires value pitchers that can stay between the knees and have them "earn" certain strikes, but that's not exactly what's going on here each time.

[CMH]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

Having watched the clips of Hernandez blown call(s) and then reading a few articles, one thing that causes it (not that it excuses it) is Gary Sanchez and his "stabbing" at the ball. He is an awful receiver and gives the impression that the pitch has missed or he's trying to steal a call. I think in each of these cases Hernandez got caught looking at the catcher's glove/reaction instead of where the ball actually crossed the plate.

I realize it doesn't help to have a guy stabbing at the ball, but what the hell is Angel Hernandez doing watching the glove instead of the ball. That's likely part of the problem with him being so bad at calling balls and strikes.


The guy let a pitch nearly down the middle go because the catcher stabbed at it.





Now, I have read that it's possible Sanchez blocked Angel's view of the plate. And I can buy that especially if the umpire isn't trying to put himself in harm's way by standing over the catcher or on the opposite end of the plate where a foul tip goes straight into his face or neck.


But that's just more ammo for why umpires behind the plate need help in making calls.



A simple sensor that alerts them when it crossed the plate is still fine. No one can argue with a machine. The umpire can just be the guy giving the message or stepping in where needed, i.e., check swings, foul tips, cather's interference.


It's time to remove calling balls and strikes from their job description. They have never been able to get it right. That's more of a negative impact on the sport than taking away variable strike zones.

[TripleCrown9]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

On this day in 1920, Cincinnati Hall of Famer Edd Roush got ejected for taking a nap in center field during the game.

[phenom1990]

Re: MLB Off-Topic

On this day in 1920, Cincinnati Hall of Famer Edd Roush got ejected for taking a nap in center field during the game.

Napping on the job, who does he think he is Costanza??