Hypertheoretical: When the change to Electronic Ball and Strike Umpiring is

May 29, 2024, 12:07 PM

made, as it enevitably will be one day, who will be quicker to adjust, hitters or pitchers? Don't want a discussion about the merits or possibilities of the change, for this post, assume that change has already happened.

I can see it benefiting pitchers in the sense that the "high strike" is seldom CALLED a strike today. So, that would, in effect expand the strike zone for pitchers. But, on the flip side, ultra control pitchers like Greg Maddux, who made a living a couple of inches (or more) off the plate, but hitting his catchers target with precision just about every time, would have to adjust and have THEIR strike zone reduced.

What say you, what would the results be?

Now, I say there will always be an umpire behind the plate, he can just have an electronic beep in his ear to let him know the pitch was a strike. No beep, no strike. Simple. He would be necessary to call safe / out plays at the plate, as having a review of every single play would add too much time to the game. Replays take way more time than they should, already. If you have a definite look in five seconds, get back on the field! Don't waste two minutes under the hood just to make it look like you are deliberating longer, when no long deliberation is required.

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Re: Hypertheoretical: When the change to Electronic Ball and Strike Umpiring is

It may all be irrelevant in 3-4 yrs. Google Trajekt Arc. They are developing a pitching machine that can accurately mimic 1500+ current MLB and College pitchers. They already have 7 operational prototypes being tested by MLB teams. Simply enter in the pitcher you are about to face, and that pitcher appears on the screen with exact spin rates, arm slots, release points, and pitch velocities. The robot moves the hole on the screen to the correct arm slot and that pitcher appears on the screen with full windup or from the stretch. The data even has AI software to interprets and predicts each pitchers' tendencies. You can essentially have Max Freid pitch live against you for however many at bats you want before you face him. Chipper Jones and Albert Pujols have tried it and said that MLB may want to outlaw it. Chipper said he could hit over .500 if he had one during his career.