Major League Baseball’s umpires are currently performing their task of calling balls and strikes with increasing accuracy. However, it is time to relieve them of this responsibility, at least in part. The rationale behind this is quite simple: the necessary information is readily available. All major league and Class AAA parks are equipped with sophisticated 12-camera systems that can measure various aspects of a pitch, such as its spin rate, horizontal and vertical break, and velocity. With this technology, it is possible to accurately determine if a pitch is a ball or a strike.
In the past, umpiring was seen as an art form, with each umpire having their own style and strike zone. It is not the fault of the umpires that the game now requires a more scientific approach. Baseball, a sport known for resisting change, should be commended for embracing and even forcing it. The implementation of technology-assisted ball and strike calls may not be as significant or impactful as the introduction of a pitch clock, but it is still necessary. Those who argue against it are essentially advocating for the possibility of crucial missed calls during important moments.
Let’s backtrack a bit. Baseball has had a replay system in place for a decade, which has become indispensable. If a runner at second base is wrongly called out but everyone in the stadium can see through replays that he is safe, shouldn’t someone correct the umpire’s decision? Existing replay systems have taken away some of the colorful moments in the game. There is no longer a reason for managers like Earl Weaver or Tommy Lasorda to throw a tantrum and kick dirt when they know the correct decision will eventually be made. This was evident during the recent incident involving Washington Nationals Manager Dave Martinez, who protested a third-strike call by the home plate umpire in a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Martinez’s frustration stemmed from the fact that the correct call could have been made using the available information.
So, why not embrace automatic ball-strike calls? Martinez’s comments about how he doesn’t let umpires bother him because they are not perfect may have been valid in the ’80s, ’90s, and 2000s, but not anymore. If Martinez’s team was so frustrated by the inaccurate call, why rely on human judgment when technological solutions are available?
MLB has been testing a new system called the automated ball-strike system (ABS) in the Arizona Fall League and Class AAA. In this system, the first three games of each six-game series have all ball-strike calls made by the Hawk-Eye tracking system, while the last three games have the umpires making the calls. However, teams can protest and have a call overturned based on the information provided by the technology. Each team starts a game with three challenges for balls and strikes, and the challenges must be made in real-time by the players. This introduces a unique human element to the system. It adds a strategic aspect, as players have to decide when to use their challenges.
I believe this plan is fantastic. It introduces new dynamics and potential drama among players and coaches who may have different opinions on when and if a challenge should be used. Most importantly, it would result in more accurate ball-strike calls than ever before.
Of course, the implementation of this system requires careful consideration. The strike zone has never been consistently called in professional baseball for 150 years due to various factors such as era, umpire style, and game situations. The strike zone needs to be flexible to accommodate factors like impending rain or the late stages of a blowout game. Players may argue that the computer reads the strike zone differently in different ballparks, but this simply exchanges concerns about human bias for concerns about computer bias.
This is not an argument against the competence of umpires. They have improved their performance through the use of technology, with a success rate of over 92% on ball-strike calls last season. There is even a popular Twitter account that reviews the work of every home plate umpire daily, showing that they are mostly outstanding despite the occasional mistake.
Why subject them, players, teams, and fans to unnecessary frustration when we have the technology to correct these mistakes? Why take the risk of a postseason game being affected by an obvious incorrect call when we know it can be rectified? Baseball has shed its reputation as a stagnant sport and now prides itself on progressiveness. Let’s continue moving forward.
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