Rules rules rules

[cp176]

This is an easy one.

 

Same as not going back to the Model T.

 

Is it ok if I disagree with you without listing every reason why I do? I'm fairly certain that tI don't want the clocks turned back and I'm just as certain that I don't want to see it happen. It's pretty clear that I'm the only one here who thinks that the less we try to change the game of baseball with more technology the better the game stays. I'm not opposed to any change that I think makes something better. I can live with that.

[notin]

The sport of running is as ancient as it gets. But I don't think anyone would want to abandon electronic timekeeping and go back to manual.

 

What about all the companies that made stop watches?

[notin]

Here’s the thing that keeps getting ignored or (intentionally?) omitted.

 

The whole Robot Ump thing isn’t going to replace a single umpire.

 

There will still be umpires on the bases making safe/out and fair/foul calls. There will still be an umpire at home plate making the same calls, but also relaying ball and strike calls he receives in his earpiece. Also, occasionally overriding them in the event a batter swings at a ball.

 

Calling balls and strikes is insanely difficult. An umpire has to decide if a ball traveling 95mph touches any part of an invisible (to use Illinois Sox fan’s fans description) pentagonal prism of varying height. I’m ok giving them help.

 

We all saw hand signs used for our entire lives. And even acknowledged that stealing sound was part of the game. But has the use of the transmission equipment to call pitches ruined the game for anyone? I don’t recall a single complaint, despite this being a much bigger change to the game than automating ball and strike calls…

[Bellhorn04]

Here’s the thing that keeps getting ignored or (intentionally?) omitted.

 

The whole Robot Ump thing isn’t going to replace a single umpire.

 

There will still be umpires on the bases making safe/out and fair/foul calls. There will still be an umpire at home plate making the same calls, but also relaying ball and strike calls he receives in his earpiece. Also, occasionally overriding them in the event a batter swings at a ball.

 

Calling balls and strikes is insanely difficult. An umpire has to decide if a ball traveling 95mph touches any part of an invisible (to use Illinois Sox fan’s fans description) pentagonal prism of varying height. I’m ok giving them help.

 

We all saw hand signs used for our entire lives. And even acknowledged that stealing sound was part of the game. But has the use of the transmission equipment to call pitches roomed the game for anyone? I don’t recall a single complaint…

 

Good points, especially the last paragraph, in spite of the bizarre spelling errors.

[jad]

Here’s the thing that keeps getting ignored or (intentionally?) omitted.

 

The whole Robot Ump thing isn’t going to replace a single umpire.

 

There will still be umpires on the bases making safe/out and fair/foul calls. There will still be an umpire at home plate making the same calls, but also relaying ball and strike calls he receives in his earpiece. Also, occasionally overriding them in the event a batter swings at a ball.

 

Calling balls and strikes is insanely difficult. An umpire has to decide if a ball traveling 95mph touches any part of an invisible (to use Illinois Sox fan’s fans description) pentagonal prism of varying height. I’m ok giving them help.

 

We all saw hand signs used for our entire lives. And even acknowledged that stealing sound was part of the game. But has the use of the transmission equipment to call pitches ruined the game for anyone? I don’t recall a single complaint, despite this being a much bigger change to the game than automating ball and strike calls…

 

I believe I did hear an announcer (was it Eck drifting off into Eck-land? -- don't think so )-- lamenting just that, the loss of the intricate hand-signal drama occurring on every pitch. (It was not a persuasive argument).

[notin]

Good points, especially the last paragraph, in spite of the bizarre spelling errors.

 

You replied while I was fixing them…

[Bellhorn04]

You replied while I was fixing them…

 

The brain-teaser "stealing sound" is still there.

[moonslav59]

Here’s the thing that keeps getting ignored or (intentionally?) omitted.

 

The whole Robot Ump thing isn’t going to replace a single umpire.

 

There will still be umpires on the bases making safe/out and fair/foul calls. There will still be an umpire at home plate making the same calls, but also relaying ball and strike calls he receives in his earpiece. Also, occasionally overriding them in the event a batter swings at a ball.

 

Calling balls and strikes is insanely difficult. An umpire has to decide if a ball traveling 95mph touches any part of an invisible (to use Illinois Sox fan’s fans description) pentagonal prism of varying height. I’m ok giving them help.

 

We all saw hand signs used for our entire lives. And even acknowledged that stealing sound was part of the game. But has the use of the transmission equipment to call pitches ruined the game for anyone? I don’t recall a single complaint, despite this being a much bigger change to the game than automating ball and strike calls…

 

Well said. The game of baseball has always been evolving towards teams figuring out how to get batters out more foter, or hitting pitchers more often. It started with simple notions, like don't pitch inside to this guy or outside to that guy. As teams got smarter and smarter, the information got better and deeper. Teams that fell behind on these aspects of the game lost more often.

 

At times, it evolved into cheating.

 

Some teams went to extremes on compiling data- something VTek used to have in his head (and notebooks.) You're right- nobody complained, except for the cheating part.

 

Now, a way has been found to improve an ugly part of the game using technology and common sense. Bring it on!

[mvp 78]

Is it ok if I disagree with you without listing every reason why I do? I'm fairly certain that tI don't want the clocks turned back and I'm just as certain that I don't want to see it happen. It's pretty clear that I'm the only one here who thinks that the less we try to change the game of baseball with more technology the better the game stays. I'm not opposed to any change that I think makes something better. I can live with that.

 

And it's perfectly ok that you have this opinion.

 

Part of me wishes every team was built like the 1985 Cardinals. Holding onto something from the past is what baseball fans do best.

[mvp 78]

Here’s the thing that keeps getting ignored or (intentionally?) omitted.

 

The whole Robot Ump thing isn’t going to replace a single umpire.

 

There will still be umpires on the bases making safe/out and fair/foul calls. There will still be an umpire at home plate making the same calls, but also relaying ball and strike calls he receives in his earpiece. Also, occasionally overriding them in the event a batter swings at a ball.

 

Calling balls and strikes is insanely difficult. An umpire has to decide if a ball traveling 95mph touches any part of an invisible (to use Illinois Sox fan’s fans description) pentagonal prism of varying height. I’m ok giving them help.

 

We all saw hand signs used for our entire lives. And even acknowledged that stealing sound was part of the game. But has the use of the transmission equipment to call pitches ruined the game for anyone? I don’t recall a single complaint, despite this being a much bigger change to the game than automating ball and strike calls…

 

Honestly, if umps just fixed their equipment and weren't always fixed on the inside part of the plate, they could call the outside part of the plate more reasonably. Right now, how they call outside balls and strikes is just ridiculous because they just can't really see that part of the plate because of where they set up.

[moonslav59]

Is it ok if I disagree with you without listing every reason why I do? I'm fairly certain that tI don't want the clocks turned back and I'm just as certain that I don't want to see it happen. It's pretty clear that I'm the only one here who thinks that the less we try to change the game of baseball with more technology the better the game stays. I'm not opposed to any change that I think makes something better. I can live with that.

 

1. You are not the only one- by far.

2. I don't understand how eliminating needless mistakes isn't making something better.

[Old Red]

Honestly, if umps just fixed their equipment and weren't always fixed on the inside part of the plate, they could call the outside part of the plate more reasonably. Right now, how they call outside balls and strikes is just ridiculous because they just can't really see that part of the plate because of where they set up.

 

It’s not as bad as it used to be with those big ole balloon protectors that the AL umps used for years.

[cp176]

1. You are not the only one- by far.

2. I don't understand how eliminating needless mistakes isn't making something better.

 

It's ok if you think that technology is the answer. I can live with human errors for the sake of the game that I happen to like - warts and all.

[cp176]

And it's perfectly ok that you have this opinion.

 

Part of me wishes every team was built like the 1985 Cardinals. Holding onto something from the past is what baseball fans do best.

 

 

Thanks for this. People are too quick to categorize and judge others today. I think that I have done pretty well changing with the times. There are some things that even though I have to accept that they are changing, I don't have to like it. I won't be crying about the changes either.

[moonslav59]

It's ok if you think that technology is the answer. I can live with human errors for the sake of the game that I happen to like - warts and all.

 

I guess I just don't get the "sake of the game" part of the position against robo umps. I'm fine with differing opinions, too.

 

We won't even notice the change, except for no bad calls.

[mvp 78]

Thanks for this. People are too quick to categorize and judge others today. I think that I have done pretty well changing with the times. There are some things that even though I have to accept that they are changing, I don't have to like it. I won't be crying about the changes either.

 

There's a difference between:

 

"I want robo umps."

 

"I like human umps."

 

and

 

"Bloom needs to sign a bunch of guys to fill out the roster next season."

 

"You're a pink hat ballwasher who thinks Chaim Bloom can do no wrong."

 

We can disagree about some things and just be normal kind human beings about it.

[mvp 78]

It's ok if you think that technology is the answer. I can live with human errors for the sake of the game that I happen to like - warts and all.

 

You're also not alone in this argument on here. I believe kimmi also is staunch anti-automatic k zone.

 

Maybe if the k zone wasn't superimposed on every tv screen it wouldn't be as big of a deal? IDK.

[cp176]

There's a difference between:

 

"I want robo umps."

 

"I like human umps."

 

and

 

"Bloom needs to sign a bunch of guys to fill out the roster next season."

 

"You're a pink hat ballwasher who thinks Chaim Bloom can do no wrong."

 

We can disagree about some things and just be normal kind human beings about it.

 

Interesting analogy and I think sadly that society in general has forgotten some of the kindness and norms that many here were brought up to appreciate.

[moonslav59]

You're also not alone in this argument on here. I believe kimmi also is staunch anti-automatic k zone.

 

Maybe if the k zone wasn't superimposed on every tv screen it wouldn't be as big of a deal? IDK.

 

If you hate the superimposed rectangle, then I would think it goes away with robo umps. (Maybe not?)

[Bellhorn04]

If you hate the superimposed rectangle, then I would think it goes away with robo umps. (Maybe not?)

 

I like the rectangle. For one thing, it really highlights how well pitchers paint the corners.

[moonslav59]

I like the rectangle. For one thing, it really highlights how well pitchers paint the corners.

 

I like it, too, and I hope they keep it, but a lot of times it's used to highlight how bad an ump is, or how they vary.

[Bellhorn04]

I like it, too, and I hope they keep it, but a lot of times it's used to highlight how bad an ump is, or how they vary.

 

That's the collateral damage, yes.

[jad]

I like it, too, and I hope they keep it, but a lot of times it's used to highlight how bad an ump is, or how they vary.

 

Perhaps it puts a constraint on how much you can claim 'the ump sucks' that without appearing a jackass. Without the box, fans and announcers would have free rein to vent.

[notin]

I like the rectangle. For one thing, it really highlights how well pitchers paint the corners.

 

It actually also shows how surprisingly good some umpires are at that part of their job…

[moonslav59]

Perhaps it puts a constraint on how much you can claim 'the ump sucks' that without appearing a jackass. Without the box, fans and announcers would have free rein to vent.

 

Not really with robo umps.

[notin]

Perhaps it puts a constraint on how much you can claim 'the ump sucks' that without appearing a jackass. Without the box, fans and announcers would have free rein to vent.

 

I do really really hope we start hearing chants like “Kill the software engineer!!” Or “The umpire needs new high speed multi-focal Gorilla Glass lenses!!”

[moonslav59]

I do really really hope we start hearing chants like “Kill the software engineer!!” Or “The umpire needs new high speed multi-focal Gorilla Glass lenses!!”

 

Wait till they catch the Astros hacking into the system!

[notin]

Wait till they catch the Astros hacking into the system!

 

I think you mean the Cardinals.

 

The Cardinals are hackers. The Astros are just trash can bangers…

[Bellhorn04]

It actually also shows how surprisingly good some umpires are at that part of their job…

 

That too.

[moonslav59]

For sure. A wide majority of calls are right, and the vast majority of easy calls are correctly called balls or strikes. It's rare that a ball thrown right down the middle is called a ball, or a ball in the dirt is called a strike, but that does happen.

 

It's the borderline calls that are called incorrectly, too many times. Some umps continuously get the same calls wrong, every game, and teams are forced to adjust to him. Most umps can't even see the whole K zone 3-D prism and are forced to project where they think a ball thrown 95 mph went. It's an impossible thing to ask an ump to do correctly.

 

Give the guys a break. Make their jobs easier to do. They can then concentrate on other things they need to call- like did the batter swing or not, did the batter get HBP or is the runner safe or out at home.