The future of baseball

[Slasher9]

Robot Umps being tested in Atlantic League all star game.

[Slasher9]

Robot Umps being tested in Atlantic League all star game.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/10/baseballs-robot-umpires-are-here-you-might-not-even-notice-difference/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ed6797efe124

[moonslav59]

Robot Umps being tested in Atlantic League all star game.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/10/baseballs-robot-umpires-are-here-you-might-not-even-notice-difference/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ed6797efe124

 

Bring it on! 2020 Baby!

[Bellhorn04]

Bring it on! 2020 Baby!

 

"Umpires Who See 20-20 in 2020!"

[jacksonianmarch]

1. Get rid of the juiced ball

2. Force teams to play 2 infielders on each side of second base. You wanna pull an OFer into the shift, go for it.

3. Replays done automatically within 10 seconds with a direct link from central to the HP ump. If not obvious, don't overturn it.

4. I like the 3 batter rule for pitchers. I'd include a caveat that it's a 3 batter rule or end of inning. Keeps from having 3 pitching changes in an inning and keeps things moving

5. Force all teams to accommodate to the 2020 human body. Teams with old stadiums with no appropriate seating are forced to renovate (I am looking at you Fenway)

6. Robot strike zone is great. HP ump can overturn at his/her discretion. Saves us from the Angel Hernandez effect

[dgalehouse]

What the average Joe and JoAnn fan wants is a fun day at the ballpark. Some teams have been able to provide that . Some have not . You want people to spend their money ; make it worthwhile and fun for them . You don't need a lot of dumb rules changes and stupid gimmicks . Just common sense .

[Bellhorn04]

What the average Joe and JoAnn fan wants is a fun day at the ballpark. Some teams have been able to provide that . Some have not . You want people to spend their money ; make it worthwhile and fun for them . You don't need a lot of dumb rules changes and stupid gimmicks .

 

Some of the rule changes are intended to speed up the game so Joe and JoAnn don't fall asleep as the game approaches the 4 hour mark.

[dgalehouse]

Some of the rule changes are intended to speed up the game so Joe and JoAnn don't fall asleep as the game approaches the 4 hour mark.

 

Just tell the umpires that they are in charge . Tell them to keep the game moving. It can be done . Not all that complicated. When the baseball is good , competitive and fast paced , no one is falling asleep .

[dgalehouse]

Here is an example : Last night , with the Miami pitcher on first base , the Met's pitcher threw over six times to " keep him close ." A total waste of time . What pitch clock ? The ump seems powerless to do anything. That should change . A Mets - Marlins game is bad enough as it is .

[a700hitter]

It looks like there are about 5 or 6 fans at the first game of the Orioles day/night double header against the Rays.

[Kimmi]

Here is an example : Last night , with the Miami pitcher on first base , the Met's pitcher threw over six times to " keep him close ." A total waste of time . What pitch clock ? The ump seems powerless to do anything. That should change . A Mets - Marlins game is bad enough as it is .

 

At times, I get frustrated by how long some pitchers take in between pitches. It would be to the pitcher's benefit to stop overthinking things so much and to just get the ball and pitch.

 

That said, there is often a lot of cat and mouse going on between the pitcher and the batter, or the pitcher and a base runner, which IMO, is one of the many great things about baseball. I would hate to see that aspect of the game taken away.

[Kimmi]

Robot Umps being tested in Atlantic League all star game.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2019/07/10/baseballs-robot-umpires-are-here-you-might-not-even-notice-difference/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.ed6797efe124

 

From what I heard in last night's telecast, the calls were not immediate. It took about 3 seconds for the ump to get the call from the automated zone and then to make the call.

 

Think about that for every pitch. Waiting 3 seconds to get a ball or strike call. How is that going to improve the game?

[Bellhorn04]

From what I heard in last night's telecast, the calls were not immediate. It took about 3 seconds for the ump to get the call from the automated zone and then to make the call.

 

Think about that for every pitch. Waiting 3 seconds to get a ball or strike call. How is that going to improve the game?

 

Just have to cut out the middleman, and have a robot make the call directly-perhaps in a humanized voice.

[Kimmi]

Just have to cut out the middleman, and have a robot make the call directly-perhaps in a humanized voice.

 

UGH The thought of robot umps really makes me sick.

 

We are dehumanizing the game a little more with these types of changes. And that has nothing to do with analytics.

 

#OldSchool

[Bellhorn04]

UGH The thought of robot umps really makes me sick.

 

We are dehumanizing the game a little more with these types of changes. And that has nothing to do with analytics.

 

#OldSchool

 

Analytics certainly don't do anything to humanize the game. It's all part of the same deal - the march of technology, the quest for more accurate information.

[Slasher9]

From what I heard in last night's telecast, the calls were not immediate. It took about 3 seconds for the ump to get the call from the automated zone and then to make the call.

 

Think about that for every pitch. Waiting 3 seconds to get a ball or strike call. How is that going to improve the game?

I would not want a 3 second delay at the MLB level.

Do you think they can improve the system to make the call almost instantaneously?

I do.

[Slasher9]

UGH The thought of robot umps really makes me sick.

 

We are dehumanizing the game a little more with these types of changes. And that has nothing to do with analytics.

 

#OldSchool

Kimmi it is bizarre to me that you are on the forefront of all things analytic but are turning your back on analytics calling the strikezone and claiming “old school”. Embrace the technology that improves the game.

#robotumpsnow

[Thunder]

Kimmi it is bizarre to me that you are on the forefront of all things analytic but are turning your back on analytics calling the strikezone and claiming “old school”. Embrace the technology that improves the game.

#robotumpsnow

 

If we ever have robot umps, I'll stop watching baseball forever.

[moonslav59]

UGH The thought of robot umps really makes me sick.

 

We are dehumanizing the game a little more with these types of changes. And that has nothing to do with analytics.

 

#OldSchool

 

Why would humans making blunder after blunder ever be good for the game?

 

No, it has nothing to do with analytics but everything to do with veracity.

 

[moonslav59]

From what I heard in last night's telecast, the calls were not immediate. It took about 3 seconds for the ump to get the call from the automated zone and then to make the call.

 

Think about that for every pitch. Waiting 3 seconds to get a ball or strike call. How is that going to improve the game?

 

Simple, just improve the call relay system.

 

Plus, the new enforced pitch clock would begin ticking the second the ball hits the catcher's glove and not after a ball or strike is called, so the delay (if they can't fix it) would not slow the game down.

[dgalehouse]

Baseball is a sport . A game . Human judgement and human error is a part of it . Robot umps is an attempt to get the ball and strike counts 100% correct . Okay , but that does not make the game more appealing. Part of the fun for fans is complaining about the umps . Trying to automate the sport , while admirable, does not make it more fun , exciting or interesting. As usual, Manfred and his flunkies are barking up the wrong tree.

[moonslav59]

Baseball is a sport . A game . Human judgement and human error is a part of it . Robot umps is an attempt to get the ball and strike counts 100% correct . Okay , but that does not make the game more appealing. Part of the fun for fans is complaining about the umps . Trying to automate the sport , while admirable, does not make it more fun , exciting or interesting. As usual, Manfred and his flunkies are barking up the wrong tree.

 

Human errors by umps does not have to be part of the game, just because it has been for over a century.

 

To me, it's not about making the game more or less fun, it's about getting the calls right and allowing players to just play the game and not have to worry about who is calling the pitches that night or if they have to swing at a ball, because the ump has been calling it a strike all night or all his career.

 

It's not fun for me to watch us get hosed by bad strike calls, and it give me no pleasure to watch us get helped by bad calls either.

 

I guess some like complaining, but they can always complain about the robots, too, or find somethging else to bitch about, like WTF Cora or DD or....

 

I'm not a Manfred flunky. If it's about fun, then you should be all for the juiced ball, since that's what most fans think is fun-- not me.

[Bellhorn04]

Baseball is a sport . A game . Human judgement and human error is a part of it . Robot umps is an attempt to get the ball and strike counts 100% correct . Okay , but that does not make the game more appealing. Part of the fun for fans is complaining about the umps .

 

Personally I've always hated bad ball and strike calls even when I was a little kid.

[dgalehouse]

Personally I've always hated bad ball and strike calls even when I was a little kid.

 

I don't like bad ball and strike calls either. I also don't like boneheaded base running, errors on easy plays , pitchers who can't throw strikes, hitters who chase pitches way out of the zone , guys who don't hustle , etc. , etc . , etc. Lots of things not to like . I do think MLB should hold umpires accountable for their performance. But part of the game is , " Kill the ump " , " Come on blue , you bum " , " Get some glasses , ump " , etc. Ball and strike calls are the least of things ailing baseball .

[Slasher9]

Baseball is a sport . A game . Human judgement and human error is a part of it . Robot umps is an attempt to get the ball and strike counts 100% correct . Okay , but that does not make the game more appealing. Part of the fun for fans is complaining about the umps . Trying to automate the sport , while admirable, does not make it more fun , exciting or interesting. As usual, Manfred and his flunkies are barking up the wrong tree.

 

I think getting ball and strike calls correct via robot umps can be completely separate from the “fix the game so kids watch it” argument. I am not saying correct ball and strike calls make the game more appealing. I am saying that getting ball and strike calls correct make the game more FAIR. I could give a rats ass if that increases viewership

[Slasher9]

Human errors by umps does not have to be part of the game, just because it has been for over a century.

 

To me, it's not about making the game more or less fun, it's about getting the calls right and allowing players to just play the game and not have to worry about who is calling the pitches that night or if they have to swing at a ball, because the ump has been calling it a strike all night or all his career.

 

It's not fun for me to watch us get hosed by bad strike calls, and it give me no pleasure to watch us get helped by bad calls either.

 

I guess some like complaining, but they can always complain about the robots, too, or find somethging else to bitch about, like WTF Cora or DD or....

 

I'm not a Manfred flunky. If it's about fun, then you should be all for the juiced ball, since that's what most fans think is fun-- not me.

 

WTF is real

[dgalehouse]

I think getting ball and strike calls correct via robot umps can be completely separate from the “fix the game so kids watch it” argument. I am not saying correct ball and strike calls make the game more appealing. I am saying that getting ball and strike calls correct make the game more FAIR. I could give a rats ass if that increases viewership

 

I do understand what you are saying . I just think the future of baseball depends greatly on attracting young fans . That should be the first priority . And it can be done . Look at Yankee Stadium , Fenway Park , Wrigley Field , Citizen's Bank Park and a couple of others . Plenty of young people , male and female , having a great time . You have to have an appealing product . Robot umps doesn't necessarily help or hurt that .

[Kimmi]

Analytics certainly don't do anything to humanize the game. It's all part of the same deal - the march of technology, the quest for more accurate information.

 

IMO, analytics aren't taking away anything from the human element and emotion during the game. Analytics aren't going to stop the Earl Weaver type arguments on the field, like robot umps and instant replay do. Analytics are more about what happens off the field in terms of assessing, planning, and strategy.

[Kimmi]

I would not want a 3 second delay at the MLB level.

Do you think they can improve the system to make the call almost instantaneously?

I do.

 

They probably could improve the system, and IMO, would have to improve it to that point before considering it at the MLB level.

 

Regardless, I am against the idea.

[Kimmi]

Kimmi it is bizarre to me that you are on the forefront of all things analytic but are turning your back on analytics calling the strikezone and claiming “old school”. Embrace the technology that improves the game.

#robotumpsnow

 

The strike zone and instant replay are not analytics. I agree that these things will likely result in better accuracy of calls, but IMO, they will not improve the game.

 

I don't like most changes to the core of the game of baseball, like eliminating the "look to first, throw to third" rule, not allowing the catcher to block the plate (though I understand why that was added), and the automatic intentional walk.