Umpires

[Willrust]

Given the recent firestorm over the blown HR call from the A's vs Indians game; gotta ask, why are umps allowed so much power over the outcome of games?

My biggest gripe, although many baseball purist disagree, is the use of umpires for strike and ball calls. It seems like every single game there is a strike/ball call by the home plate umpire that is questionable. Rich Hill had a curveball that would hit the top of the strike zone at the front of the plate, and be in the dirt by the time it got to the catcher.

The umpires are actually graded by the pitchtrax system. That is how they are evaluated! Yet for some reason, this system isn't being used to actually call the balls and strikes.

I get it, the umps have a union. I am not saying get rid of the umps, as they will still need to be back there to make Fair/Foul calls, play at the plate calls, and oversee several aspects of the game being played. However, it is counter intuitive to judge someone utilizing a system that could be used to get every strike/ball call correct.

 

[patg006]

Given the recent firestorm over the blown HR call from the A's vs Indians game; gotta ask, why are umps allowed so much power over the outcome of games?

My biggest gripe, although many baseball purist disagree, is the use of umpires for strike and ball calls. It seems like every single game there is a strike/ball call by the home plate umpire that is questionable. Rich Hill had a curveball that would hit the top of the strike zone at the front of the plate, and be in the dirt by the time it got to the catcher.

The umpires are actually graded by the pitchtrax system. That is how they are evaluated! Yet for some reason, this system isn't being used to actually call the balls and strikes.

I get it, the umps have a union. I am not saying get rid of the umps, as they will still need to be back there to make Fair/Foul calls, play at the plate calls, and oversee several aspects of the game being played. However, it is counter intuitive to judge someone utilizing a system that could be used to get every strike/ball call correct.

Double edged sword willrust, there are days umps are calling a small zone, and itll help a hitter, and some days the zone is huge and the pitcher gets strikes called noticably off the plate. Tom Glavine made a career of 'painting the corner.' The ambiguity of different umpires every series is sufficient enough....unless there becomes a crafted system. Umps make mistakes, Jim Joyce did.....shit like this happens.

More importantly, how wouldyou replace them? A computer generated system which sets specific zone parameters? Cant see it.....

It was a bullshit call in the A's Injians game, but it doesnt merit a complete change of the entire system.

 

[The Bandit]

The day a computer replaces a home plate umpire I'll stop watching baseball.

 

[brett05]

And Hill never had a pitch drop four-five feet in the two feet from the front of the plate to the catcher's mitt.

 

[KBisBack!]

The day a computer replaces a home plate umpire I'll stop watching baseball.

Smartest thing you have said.

Well done.

 

[Willrust]

Double edged sword willrust, there are days umps are calling a small zone, and itll help a hitter, and some days the zone is huge and the pitcher gets strikes called noticably off the plate. Tom Glavine made a career of 'painting the corner.' The ambiguity of different umpires every series is sufficient enough....unless there becomes a crafted system. Umps make mistakes, Jim Joyce did.....shit like this happens.

More importantly, how wouldyou replace them? A computer generated system which sets specific zone parameters? Cant see it.....

It was a bullshit call in the A's Injians game, but it doesnt merit a complete change of the entire system.

Pat,
The exact things that you mention are just another reason to have one singular strikezone, not strikezone A per umpire Smith and strikezone B per umpire Jones.

As mentioned, the umpire performance is currently evaluated based upon pitchtrax. Why can't the pitchtrax system be utilized in game? Keep the ump there, but just have them reiterate what pitchtrax calls a ball or strike.

 

[KBisBack!]

The players already know which umpires have tight strike zones and which have liberal strike zones and make adjustments. They usually know how it is going to be even before the game starts.

Life is about being human.

Sports are about being human.

Being human is about making mistakes.

No one is perfect. The game isn't perfect. The players aren't perfect.

Why not just put computers out in the field to pitch, hit and field also? Wouldn't that make the game better also?

Having computers call balls and strikes is dumb and not what a large majority of baseball fans want.

 

[brett05]

Baseball is perfect. It's flaws is part of that perfection.

 

[SilenceS]

Baseball is an imperfect game. Its the whole greatness of it. Theres no reason they shouldnt use replay on certain calls, but strike zone isnt one of them. Also, people always flip when they make mistakes, but never talk about how many times they get it right.

 

[Willrust]

Baseball is an imperfect game. Its the whole greatness of it. Theres no reason they shouldnt use replay on certain calls, but strike zone isnt one of them. Also, people always flip when they make mistakes, but never talk about how many times they get it right.

As I said, it seems illogical to use a system to evaluate the umps, but outright refuse to use the same system to ensure the correct call is made. It wouldn't cause any pauses in the game (just like the pitchtrax you see on television) and guarantees the same strikezone across the board.

However, we are talking about the same game that went into a fervor over changing from bullpen phones to cell phones so I guess it is par for the course. It is also the same sport that says it will have the harshest PED penalties, but doesn't test for HGH.

 

[Chris J]

If you think MLB umps control the game, go watch an NBA and you'll never complain about MLB umps again

 

[waldo7239117]

If you think MLB umps control the game, go watch an NBA and you'll never complain about MLB umps again

The NBA refs are fine WHEN your team isn't facing Miami. Well that's a joke, all refs/umps ia all lrwgues suck. They just want the paycheck and don't care if it's the right call it not.

 

[Willrust]

http://www.sportvision.com/baseball/pitchfx

http://brooksbaseball.net/pfxVB/zoneTrack.php

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=13109