It’s Time for Baseball to Strive for Perfection When Calling Balls and Strikes

Automated strike zone system is being comprehensively tested in all games at the Triple-A level this season.

By David Maril

The ease at which baseball adjusted to what seemed to be radical rule changes, implemented in spring training, is a sign that an eventual switch to an automated system of calling balls and strikes wouldn’t have a disruptive impact on the game.

Here at the halfway point of the 2023 season, it’s obvious the introduction of a pitcher-batter time clock, along with several other new regulations to quicken the pace of games, has been an impressive success. This should provide encouragement for making another bold change, going to an automated strike zone (ABS) system.

The “robo-ump” system is being tested in two different ways at the Triple-A level. In half of the games, usually the first three games of a six-game series, the automated system is used in a 100-percent mode. The calls are made by a tracking system, which relays the ball or strike determination to the umpire. He then signals the call.

In the other three games of the series, the home plate umpire makes the ball and strike calls himself. However, teams can challenge a call and the ABS system is used to verify the accuracy. Each team is given three challenges a game and can retain that challenge if the verification call goes in its favor.

Reportedly, the automated system will not be introduced to the major leagues until the 2025 season.

WHILE MANY OF US, who are baseball traditionalists, were skeptical of removing more of the human elements from the game, it’s become obvious that action is needed to address the growing inconsistencies calling pitches the traditional way.

Baseball opened the door to considering pitch calling technology a few years ago when it put an emphasis on increased accuracy on umpire calls, introducing a replay system. Now that the demand for perfection is in, there’s no reason not to upgrade the accuracy of umpiring calls at the plate.

As we get deeper into the second half of the season, when you’re watching games on television, think about all the inconsistencies on strike calls. These mistakes are embarrassingly revealed by the replays, showing exactly where the baseball travels in relation to the defined strike zone. Modern. high-powered TV cameras are exposing the increasing number of inaccurate calls.

UMPIRES, HOWEVER, DO NOT deserve total blame for missing pitch locations. Besides the increase in velocity of fastballs and other hard thrown pitches, catchers make the job even tougher with the emphasis on what is tactfully referred to as “pitch framing.”

Umpires are pressured to make their strike zone judgments even quicker than in the old days. It’s no longer where the catcher’s mitt finishes after receiving a pitch. If an ump doesn’t determine the pitch call immediately, he’s more susceptible to relying on where the ball ends up once the catcher finishes swooping in, centering the ball more deeply into the strike zone territory.

It’s always been an accepted part of the game that each umpire has a certain style of calling a game. Some, with liberal, larger strike zones, are labelled “pitchers’ umpires.” Others, with a much tighter zone, favor the hitters. And now when you add in catchers complicating the issue with their expanded framing skills, there’s an even higher rate of inaccurate, or at the very least, inconsistent calls.

THIS IS GOING TO BECOME an even bigger issue as gambling becomes welcomed and accepted even more, connecting to baseball. As more people gamble money on outcomes and player performances, the accuracy of umpiring calls will be even under more scrutiny.

It’s important to note that an automated strike calling system will not be taken away umpiring jobs. The game would still retain plate umpires and they would continue to signify whether a pitch is a ball or strike, relaying the high-tech information. while retaining their other responsibilities.

I CREDIT BOB UECKER, the Hall of Fame radio voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, for turning me against the increased influence of pitch framing. Listening, a couple of years ago, to a Milwaukee game, I heard him, while expressing outrage over how wide-spread the practice had become, make a very convincing argument against it.

For years, solid defensive catchers, who gave umpires a clear view, especially on border-line pitches, were praised. On the other side, catchers who would set up, say, on the inside corner, but then awkwardly thrust the glove out to snare an outside corner pitch could cost a pitcher what should have been a strike.

With this in mind, most teams began emphasizing the importance of framing with all of their catchers coming p through their systems. Once this focus literally caught on, the practice expanded to framing almost every pitch, even if it was clearly out of the strike zone. It’s one thing trying to increase the chances of a borderline pitch being called a strike. But it’s going too far clearly attempting to steal a strike, pulling in a pitch that isn’t even close to the zone.

Ever since I heard Uecker’s commentary, it becomes more noticeable to me when I watch games on television how many pitches that should be called balls are called strikes. And if you want to be a bit of a an extremist, you could say it’s a form of cheating. I wouldn’t go that far. However, this definitely isn’t good for the game.

It’s at the point where you could almost expect catchers to start missing games, or spending time on the Injured List, with strained wrists from their magician acts, trying to make their hands quicker than the eye so they can pull a strike out of their gloves.

SADLY, INTEREST IN BASEBALL’S All-Star game continues to decline. This year’s television ratings were the lowest for any baseball All-Star game. The Fox network barely registered an audience of 7,000,000 viewers.

Baseball’s middle season classic used to be the crowned jewel of All-Star competition out of all the big time professional sports. Fans and players cared about who won. Media coverage put an emphasis on the history of the National League, still called the Senior Circuit, battling for bragging rights over the American League, which was still referred to as the Junior Circuit.

A victory in the All-Star game resulted in prestige and bragging rights. Through the decades that the Yankees dominated the World Series, the equalizers for the NL were its numerous All-Star victories.

This was such a big deal in those days that National League president Warren Giles would actually go into the locker room before the game and give a Newt Rockne type speech about how important it was for pride and the league’s reputation to win. Managers for both teams put a lot more emphasis on winning the game than now, where there’s more of an attempt to get as many players in so fans around the country can see their home-team stars in action.

Before interleague competition, there was significant mystique about how National League players would match up against the best talent in the American League. For most players, the only time they ever played against each other would be spring training exhibition games. The only other opportunity came in the World Series, adding to the post season interest in the matchup of the best team from each league.

The beginning of interleague play. and greatly expanding the format, has definitely taken away from the impact of the All-Star Game. The reality is that the home run hitting contest has become more interesting than the game itself.

BASEBALL’S DECISION, a few years ago, to replace the players’ regular team uniforms with All-Star uniforms deserves much criticism.

Instead of the impressive spectacle of the contrasting team colors all on the baseball diamond together, both leagues are outfitted in flashy, rather commercial looking uniforms that make both squads resemble barnstorming clubs on a traveling exhibition road show.

It used to be a matter of pride for fans around the country to be able to pick out their home players easily, identifiable in their team uniforms.

It’s probably appropriate that they do wear their team jerseys in the Home Run Derby contest. After all, it’s become bigger than the All-Star Game.

STILL, BASEBALL’S All-Star Week remains a lot more popular than what the NFL, NBA and NHL organize each year.

The NBA’s is a farce, strictly a long-range shooting contest with defensive play prohibited.

The NFL’s ProBowl has been nicknamed the ProBore for years and reverted to a flag football type exhibition, reducing injuries.