Re: MLB Off-Topic

[countryboy]

Italy has a legitimate chance to do the unthinkable

Sent from the Operation Sports App

[DrJones]

Venezuela finally reaches a WBC Final... and is starting Eduardo Rodriguez against one of the greatest lineups of all time. Vaya con Dios. 😅

[DrJones]

Venezuela finally reaches a WBC Final... and is starting Eduardo Rodriguez against one of the greatest lineups of all time. Vaya con Dios. 😅

E-Rod came through! Terrific game, electric atmosphere, WBC delivers yet again.

[Blzer]

Welp, one day into exhibition games at Oracle Park, and they have the ****ty real-time strike zone on the screen despite the ABS challenge system in place, making the entire process anticlimactic for the home viewer.

If you think that's the reason I'm upset, you'd be mistaken. I was just hoping that was the reason they'd think to ditch it.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Spring Training already.

[DrJones]

Welp, one day into exhibition games at Oracle Park, and they have the ****ty real-time strike zone on the screen despite the ABS challenge system in place, making the entire process anticlimactic for the home viewer.

If you think that's the reason I'm upset, you'd be mistaken. I was just hoping that was the reason they'd think to ditch it.

I never thought I'd say this, but I miss Spring Training already.

Very, very curious about how this is going to go. From what I've gathered, ABS is going to severely disadvantage two groups of players (and eventually a third):

1. ABS is determining Individual strike zones by height alone and do NOT account for stance, ie a 6-foot player who stands upright will have the same sized strike zone as a 6-foot player who crouches. If RIckey Henderson played in 2026, ABS would be calling strikes on pitches thrown head-high.

2. ABS is calculated in the same spot as the TV on-screen zone: on a 2-dimensional plane exactly midway (8.5 inches deep) within home plate. For pitchers who throw sinkers/splitters with extreme, late vertical break, it's possible that the pitch can clip the front of the strike zone but drop below it at the point ABS calculates it.

3. As tennis fans know, there was a decade or so where, similar to ABS, players could challenge 3 line calls per set (and a 4th in a tiebreaker) and you only lost a challenge if you were incorrect, etc. However, since 2020, all line calls have been automated at major tournmanets, no more need to challenge. Seems only a matter of time before this happens in MLB, which would eliminate pitch framing altogether.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Well, they at least got the BS part right with ABS. Now the A just needs rerated F.
Imagine that, 150 years of major league baseball and they were doing it wrong all this time trying to get humans to call the strike zone.
Can't wait for the day robuts get to replace human players. On the bright side they won't needs PEDs.

[Blzer]

Very, very curious about how this is going to go. From what I've gathered, ABS is going to severely disadvantage two groups of players (and eventually a third):

1. ABS is determining Individual strike zones by height alone and do NOT account for stance, ie a 6-foot player who stands upright will have the same sized strike zone as a 6-foot player who crouches. If RIckey Henderson played in 2026, ABS would be calling strikes on pitches thrown head-high.

2. ABS is calculated in the same spot as the TV on-screen zone: on a 2-dimensional plane exactly midway (8.5 inches deep) within home plate. For pitchers who throw sinkers/splitters with extreme, late vertical break, it's possible that the pitch can clip the front of the strike zone but drop below it at the point ABS calculates it.

3. As tennis fans know, there was a decade or so where, similar to ABS, players could challenge 3 line calls per set (and a 4th in a tiebreaker) and you only lost a challenge if you were incorrect, etc. However, since 2020, all line calls have been automated at major tournmanets, no more need to challenge. Seems only a matter of time before this happens in MLB, which would eliminate pitch framing altogether.

I hope it's still a challenge system and let the umpires umpire, but that's just me.

As for #1, I assumed it was the same height system they were using from before, which like takes their batting stance height from the last three games and averages it or something.

You're right about #2 though, it's in the middle of the plate and brings about a disadvantage to those ground ball pitchers. We'll also see more height to the strike zone than we're accustomed to.

[DrJones]

As for #1, I assumed it was the same height system they were using from before, which like takes their batting stance height from the last three games and averages it or something.

From yesterday's ESPN article:

Teams are most concerned with calls at the top of the strike zone. Every player's height was measured during spring training specifically for ABS. How detailed is the process? The league is being particular about taking measurements in the morning as studies have shown people lose height throughout the day.

The new measurements are based on a player's height, not anything to do with their stance. In practice, those with upright stances -- think Cody Bellinger -- could have some pitches overturned in their favor, whereas the opposite is true for those with a pronounced crouch.

[Blzer]

Wow, that is both interesting and ridiculous.

I also didn't know our height fluctuates throughout the day. Gattaca, anyone?

[DrJones]

Wow, that is both interesting and ridiculous.

I also didn't know our height fluctuates throughout the day. Gattaca, anyone?

This would've been super useful back in my game dev days. So many players lied about their height and weight - David Wells was the worst offender 😂

[Majingir]

As for #1, I assumed it was the same height system they were using from before, which like takes their batting stance height from the last three games and averages it or something.

From yesterday's ESPN article:

Teams are most concerned with calls at the top of the strike zone. Every player's height was measured during spring training specifically for ABS. How detailed is the process? The league is being particular about taking measurements in the morning as studies have shown people lose height throughout the day.

The new measurements are based on a player's height, not anything to do with their stance. In practice, those with upright stances -- think Cody Bellinger -- could have some pitches overturned in their favor, whereas the opposite is true for those with a pronounced crouch.

I feel like there's some jokes to be made here.

"I swear I'm 2 inches bigger in the morning"

[Blzer]

Jason Heyward retires. 😢

[Ghost Of The Year]

RIP 25% of the great Dodger infield of 1973-1981, Davey Lopes passes on at 80.
I always assumed he'd get another shot at manager after the Brewers gig but it just never happened.

Back to that Dodger infield, they started playing together in '73 and lost what 3 world series together?
And it all culminated into their last game together, beating the Yankees in game 6 of the '81 WS.

[Ghost Of The Year]

Rough week for ex-Brewer managers.
RIP Phil Garner.

[Blzer]

Garret Anderson dies at 53.

Wow, tragic. R.I.P.