A Realistic View at 2020: Part II

[moonslav59]

It’s impressed me.

 

A home plate umpire’s job involves deciding if a 100mph baseball touches any part of an invisible box of varying size. And with very little time and no help. When I see borderline K-Zone pitches called by the umpire and he agrees one way or the other, I’m very impressed...

 

It's the breaking balls that are harder to call. As the ball leaves the site of the umps due to the catcher being in the way, he has to guess if the breaking ball caught a sliver of the strike zone or not.

[S5Dewey]

It's the breaking balls that are harder to call. As the ball leaves the site of the umps due to the catcher being in the way, he has to guess if the breaking ball caught a sliver of the strike zone or not.

 

Do they ever lose sight of the ball?

As someone who was a guest announcer on a NESN broadcast explained it, umpires are trained to set up over the shoulder of the catcher nearest the batter. When they do that they are looking almost straight down on that edge of the plate so they can see if the inside fastball covers the plate.

 

Here's what they can't see:

They can't see whether a curve ball catches a front corner of the inside of the plate because they're not looking straight down at it. It's 2-3 feet in front of them and the ball is 18" or more off the ground so they're forced to make a judgement as to whether the ball crossed the plate.

They can't see anything on the outside of the plate - even a fastball for the same reason - they're looking at it at an angle rather than straight down.

 

Given all the guesswork involved IMO the umpires usually do a pretty good job. I just wish they would do better.

[Bellhorn04]

Do they ever lose sight of the ball?

As someone who was a guest announcer on a NESN broadcast explained it, umpires are trained to set up over the shoulder of the catcher nearest the batter. When they do that they are looking almost straight down on that edge of the plate so they can see if the inside fastball covers the plate.

 

Here's what they can't see:

They can't see whether a curve ball catches a front corner of the inside of the plate because they're not looking straight down at it. It's 2-3 feet in front of them and the ball is 18" or more off the ground so they're forced to make a judgement as to whether the ball crossed the plate.

They can't see anything on the outside of the plate - even a fastball for the same reason - they're looking at it at an angle rather than straight down.

 

And of course-this is no news flash-catchers can have a sizable influence on the calls by how they catch the ball. That's even measured now!

Edited March 26, 2020 by Bellhorn04

[Kimmi]

Blatantly blown calls are a problem though. That can't happen.

 

I agree that they should not happen.

[Kimmi]

And of course-this is no new flash-catchers can have a sizable influence on the calls by how they catch the ball. That's even measured now!

 

This is a good thing!

[notin]

I agree that they should not happen.

 

Also, quick draw ejections. Will the robot ump eject players and Managers even faster?

[Kimmi]

Also, quick draw ejections. Will the robot ump eject players and Managers even faster?

 

I agree about quick draw ejections. However, I will miss the heated umpire/manager arguments.

[S5Dewey]

Also, quick draw ejections. Will the robot ump eject players and Managers even faster?

 

The roboumps will be programmed to respond differently to G. Carlin's "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television". Certain words will require an immediate ejection while other "tamer" words will have to be repeated within a certain number of seconds to force the roboump to make the ejection.

[notin]

Just to cloud the roster situation a little more, the Sox signed Yairo Munoz today.

 

Munoz was actually a good role player for the Cardinals the last two seasons, but got fed up with his lack of role with the team, threw a hissy fit, and walked away.

 

Hopefully he’s grown up in the past few weeks. And learned to pitch...

[mvp 78]

Speier “ On what would have been Opening Day, the Red Sox project (per Fangraphs) as a sub-.500 team after a brutal offseason and spring. But projections aren't certainties. How could they beat that forecast?”

[Bellhorn04]

Speier “ On what would have been Opening Day, the Red Sox project (per Fangraphs) as a sub-.500 team after a brutal offseason and spring. But projections aren't certainties. How could they beat that forecast?”

 

They could beat it if Kabloom's cast of no-name acquisitions turn out to be mostly good ones, I guess. Plus I don't think he's totally done yet, assuming the season ever resumes.

[oldtimer]

Also, quick draw ejections. Will the robot ump eject players and Managers even faster?

 

I don't think many want to put a robot behind the plate. I recommend techology assistance for the umpire, who still is behind the plate. From a fan's POV, it still looks the same.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't think many want to put a robot behind the plate. I recommend techology assistance for the umpire, who still is behind the plate. From a fan's POV, it still looks the same.

 

That's what it will be. Anyone who thinks there will be actual robots standing there will be disappointed.

[notin]

that's what it will be. Anyone who thinks there will be actual robots standing there will be disappointed.

 

stop killing this for me!!

[mvp 78]

They could beat it if Kabloom's cast of no-name acquisitions turn out to be mostly good ones, I guess. Plus I don't think he's totally done yet, assuming the season ever resumes.

 

It's clear that Kabloom has a few more months to figure out the rotation.

[mvp 78]

That's what it will be. Anyone who thinks there will be actual robots standing there will be disappointed.

 

First comes the technology assistance. Then comes the cybernetic implants. Then comes the robot overlords.

[mvp 78]

Rotoworld rankings:

 

22. Boston Red Sox

First the Red Sox traded one of the best players they have ever drafted and developed in Mookie Betts, then word came down in mid-March that staff ace Chris Sale needs Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery and will be sidelined through the early part of 2021. It has been a rough couple of months in Boston, what with Tom Brady also leaving the Patriots. There is still some firepower in the Red Sox lineup between Rafael Devers, Xander Bogaerts, J.D. Martinez, and Andrew Benintendi, but the starting pitching looks highly suspect beyond Eduardo Rodriguez.

[Thunder]

Speier “ On what would have been Opening Day, the Red Sox project (per Fangraphs) as a sub-.500 team after a brutal offseason and spring. But projections aren't certainties. How could they beat that forecast?”

 

I think we're still a winning ball club, given that the key components stay healthy. Playoffs? No. Over .500? Absolutely. I think the offense is still pretty good, but obviously pitching will be an issue. I don't think E-Rod is as good as he was last year. I think a shortened season would help us significantly.

[mvp 78]

I think we're still a winning ball club, given that the key components stay healthy. Playoffs? No. Over .500? Absolutely. I think the offense is still pretty good, but obviously pitching will be an issue. I don't think E-Rod is as good as he was last year. I think a shortened season would help us significantly.

 

No Sale, plus a worse EROD = under .500.

[Bellhorn04]

No Sale, plus a worse EROD = under .500.

 

Seems like the right year for it at this point.

[mvp 78]

Seems like the right year for it at this point.

 

A shortened season means one good winning streak and you could win the division.

[moonslav59]

No Sale, plus a worse EROD = under .500.

 

ERod could keep getting better.

We basically had no Sale last year and still finished over .500.

No Porcello & Price may hurt, but it’s not like we won a lot when they pitched last year.

I’m expecting close to .500, but with a short season, anything can happen.

There is a reason baseball plays 162 not 82, and we may see why this year.

[Thunder]

ERod could keep getting better.

We basically had no Sale last year and still finished over .500.

No Porcello & Price may hurt, but it’s not like we won a lot when they pitched last year.

I’m expecting close to .500, but with a short season, anything can happen.

There is a reason baseball plays 162 not 82, and we may see why this year.

 

Everything okay there Moon? You didn't post in bold.

[moonslav59]

Everything okay there Moon? You didn't post in bold.

 

All is good. I’m on my phone. My wife is having oral surgery as we speak.

[Thunder]

All is good. I’m on my phone. My wife is having oral surgery as we speak.

 

Hope it goes well.

[Bellhorn04]

A shortened season means one good winning streak and you could win the division.

 

That's the spirit.

[mvp 78]

@byJulianMack

— Yairo Muñoz was added to the club’s 2020 spring training roster as a non-roster invitee.

— Right-handed pitchers Colten Brewer and Chris Mazza and left-handed pitchers Matt Hall and Jeffrey Springs were optioned to minor league rosters.

 

Great job TalkSox. You did it!

[mvp 78]

https://www.twitch.tv/videos/576062343

 

Opening Day simulation with OOTP.

[mvp 78]

Red Sox have signed Yairo Munoz, but it's not your run-of-the-mill minor-league signing. Lots of unanswered questions about his bizarre departure from Cardinals camp.

 

Dude walked out on Cards during ST.

[Thunder]

Red Sox have signed Yairo Munoz, but it's not your run-of-the-mill minor-league signing. Lots of unanswered questions about his bizarre departure from Cardinals camp.

 

Dude walked out on Cards during ST.

 

He was social distancing. Ahead of the curve