An Idea for Ump Strike Zone Consistency

[MFS62]

Alek Manoah (Toronto pitcher) has an idea. (not a pass through/ blind link)

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/alek-manoah-has-an-ingenious-idea-for-more-consistent-strike-zone-calls-170839341.htmlhttps://www.yahoo.com/sports/alek-manoah-has-an-ingenious-idea-for-more-consistent-strike-zone-calls-170839341.html

“Manoah said in a video interview. “So, you know how when you're driving, you can nowadays see the speedometer floating in the air on your dashboard... “So what I'm thinking is, there has to be something that reflects, for that to happen on that display. So what if we put a shield on every umpire's mask that can reflect, as they're looking over the plate, that little box that we all see at home?

If the tech is possible, why not?



Later

[nymr83]

Why not just have the computer make the call?

[Frayed Knot]

Yeah, don't over-complicate things.

If the eye(s) in the sky can track the speed, trajectory, launch angles, and distances of batted balls across the acreage of the ball field then it can track it into (or not) a more or less static box. And, unlike the umps mask, it won't take a wicked foul tip into the electronics four or five times per game.



Gary, who tends to be against this sort of progress and has previously described the minor league trials of ROBO-UMP as disastrous, admitted the other night that more recent results have shown great improvement. He added (or has resigned himself) that this is coming and it could be within five years.



Personally, I'd like it here in the next five weeks but Manfred's office has asked for my input lately. Not sure of the source for these status reports Gary is passing along or whether they're even reports at all but rather just anecdotal tidbits.



Between this sort of stuff, the CBA, and (hopefully) some kind of commitment to REAL pace of play adjustments, this could be a real big off-season for the sport above and beyond just the usual FA/trade news.