If Baseball goes to robot strike zone and pitch clocks...I'm done

[JRHawk2003]

I wont attend a game umpired by a robot.

I hate the constant tinkering. The more they screw with it....the more they will go downhill.

They want to take the human element out of the game. Rob Manfred can go get zika and rot...

 

[SWIowahawks]

I might be with ya. Some of the pitches that end up as strikes in the K Zone are ridiculous.

 

[hawkeye54545]

Get off my lawn!

 

[fredjr82]

If they don't, I'm probably done. Shit is unwatchable on TV until October.

 

[Run&Blade]

Would love robot strike zone.

 

[SWIowahawks]

Would love robot strike zone.

 

[lonestar50]

 

[NorthernHawkeye]

What's wrong with a pitch clock.

Baseball is damn near unwatchable anymore. It's like watching paint dry.

I watched Iowa in the NCAAs but the slow pace was grueling.

 

[Pepperman]

I am all for a pitch clock and robotic strike zone. If the technology is there to sense where the ball is at all times, let's do it. Fair is fair.

 

[Raglefant]

You don't want balls and strikes called accurately?

 

[General Tso]

DOit.jpg

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

From my experience watching it a pitch clock is certainly something they could use.

They could probably go to a single 30 second advertisement after each pitch that either strikes or goes foul.

 

[hexumhawk]

As much as it hurts the nostalgia of the game it really would be better imo. Right now pitchers and hitters have to change their zone depending on what ump is out there EVERYDAY. It really shouldnt be that way and there needs to be some consistency.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

You don't want balls and strikes called accurately?

I never understood the argument about the human element and that argument is made for every single sport out there when they ad some sort of machine or mechanism to get better calls.

The argument seems to almost be "Bad calls are an important part of the game!!"

 

[hexumhawk]

From my experience watching it a pitch clock is certainly something they could use.

They could probably go to a single 30 second advertisement after each pitch that either strikes or goes foul.

They also need to enforce batters not stepping out of the box and adjusting themselves and their gloves after every pitch.

 

[Hoosierhawkeye]

They also need to enforce batters not stepping out of the box and adjusting themselves and their gloves after every pitch.

That's a big part of it too.

 

[ClarindaA's]

Why let some fatass make mistakes behind the play that cost people their livelihood, cost people games and in general ruin the game. Calling a strike a ball, when it should have been strike 3, had cost teams games

 

[pablow]

Bad calls are part of the game. Booing umps is a part of the game. It's baseball.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I never understood the argument about the human element and that argument is made for every single sport out there when they ad some sort of machine or mechanism to get better calls.

The argument seems to almost be "Bad calls are an important part of the game!!"

It is.

And baseball has an element just like every other sport, it's called replay. And just like every other sport not every play is reviewed/reviewable.

 

[thewop]

I'm all for pitch clocks. It would only be an issue for pitchers for about 2-3 outings, then they'd adjust their rhythm, and the pitch clock wouldn't even matter anymore. It would probably not impact 100% of pitchers as is.

 

[ANYCHawk]

I'm all for pitch clocks. It would only be an issue for pitchers for about 2-3 outings, then they'd adjust their rhythm, and the pitch clock wouldn't even matter anymore. It would probably not impact 100% of pitchers as is.

One issue I have with a pitch clock, is that it assumes its the pitcher being slow. Often times its the batter. Stepping out adjusting batting gloves, fixing the helmet, etc. What's the mechanism to make sure they are ready to go.

 

[thewop]

One issue I have with a pitch clock, is that it assumes its the pitcher being slow. Often times its the batter. Stepping out adjusting batting gloves, fixing the helmet, etc. What's the mechanism to make sure they are ready to go.

excellent point. Gotta solve the batter issue too.

 

[Run&Blade]

The strike zone Greg Maddox got was a complete fricking joke.

 

[SoDakHawk]

If they do these things it will ruin the game. That's the beauty of baseball, there are no clocks. Some of you people just need to relax and enjoy the game. If you are that fidgety that you need constant action then I suggest you should probably watch more baseball, or take up fishing, to help with whatever issues you got.

The simple solution is that the umps need to control the pace of play more. If the batter doesn't get in the box, call a strike, if the pitcher doesn't pitch call a ball. No need to get clocks or computers involved.

 

[Pepperman]

I can only assume those arguing against the constant strike zone simply aren't aware of the biases umpires CONSISTENTLY show when in a pitchers' count or a hitters' count?

Now, I will say you'd have to figure out how to move it up and down for smaller players like Altuve or taller players like Judge.

 

[B1GDeal]

I'm all for technology improving the game and being accurate. If this also speeds up the game, and makes things consistent, even better.

 

[mthawkeyes]

OP apparently hasn't watched Joe West behind the plate. Make awful call, get pissed when batter or pitcher looks sideways at him, hold grudge the rest of the game. Lather, rinse, repeat.

We now have replay for lots of calls, might as well do balls and strikes. One ball/strike can call can impact the game even more than a call on the bases. Just look at the World Series. If the 5th inning, 2 outs, 2-2 count, Hendricks is cruising and throws what appears to be strike 3 to Santana. Ends up walking, Lester comes in earlier and the entire bullpen usage is altered.

Back in the day, high school baseball players had to keep one foot in the box between pitches. If that saves 2-3 seconds per pitch, a 300-pitch game is shortened by 10-15 minutes.

 

[SoDakHawk]

That's fine. I'm for enforcing methods to keep the game moving. One foot in the batter box for the hitter or just an internal clock kept by the ump to address when a pitcher is stalling. I'm just not for a pitch clock or computerized strike zone. If Joe West is a problem, and I agree he is, then get rid of Joe West and umps like him, don't fundamentally alter the game because there are a few bad umps who think they are bigger than the game.

 

[bhawk24bob]

There's a lot of simple things that they could do to speed up the game without altering it too much. Let's start by ending mound visits

 

[Joes Place]

I wont attend a game umpired by a robot.

I hate the constant tinkering. The more they screw with it....the more they will go downhill.

They want to take the human element out of the game. Rob Manfred can go get zika and rot...

What if it's a human/machine hybrid or cyborg, that beeps a light for balls or strikes?

 

[Joes Place]

I can only assume those arguing against the constant strike zone simply aren't aware of the biases umpires CONSISTENTLY show when in a pitchers' count or a hitters' count?

Now, I will say you'd have to figure out how to move it up and down for smaller players like Altuve or taller players like Judge.

Let a machine give the ump feedback on balls/strikes over the plate (inside/outside), but let him decide on 'high/low' based on the batters height and stance. Give the umps the automated/electronic feedback as part of their calls, but let them make the calls.

 

[mthawkeyes]

That's fine. I'm for enforcing methods to keep the game moving. One foot in the batter box for the hitter or just an internal clock kept by the ump to address when a pitcher is stalling. I'm just not for a pitch clock or computerized strike zone. If Joe West is a problem, and I agree he is, then get rid of Joe West and umps like him, don't fundamentally alter the game because there are a few bad umps who think they are bigger than the game.

So with regard to the Joe West problem, it is apparent that accuracy of ball/strike calls has no bearing on who is assigned to umpire post-season games. Is there any standard outside of longevity?

 

[SoDakHawk]

No, just no, let the umps call the game.

Year after year there are controversies and threads on this board about the crappy officiating in the NFL. You know, the NFL refs used to do a good job, until replay was introduced. Now the refs in the NFL are unsure of themselves, constantly having the eye in the sky looking over their shoulders. As a result the officiating has gotten bad.

Let the officials do their jobs. Provide them training and use technology to give them feedback after the game, but let them do their jobs and keep the computers and cameras out of the game. Use the tools to train the good officials and get rid of the bad one and the officiating will improve.

I miss the days of a good manager/umpire dust-up. Now the manager looks at the video guy to see if he should challenge the call. Boring. Give me back the days of Billy Martin, Earl Weaver, Tommy Lasorda, Lou Piniella, and Bobby Valentine. Now that we've gone to the replay era baseball has lost a bit of its soul

 

[ClarindaA's]

OP apparently hasn't watched Joe West behind the plate. Make awful call, get pissed when batter or pitcher looks sideways at him, hold grudge the rest of the game. Lather, rinse, repeat.

We now have replay for lots of calls, might as well do balls and strikes. One ball/strike can call can impact the game even more than a call on the bases. Just look at the World Series. If the 5th inning, 2 outs, 2-2 count, Hendricks is cruising and throws what appears to be strike 3 to Santana. Ends up walking, Lester comes in earlier and the entire bullpen usage is altered.

Back in the day, high school baseball players had to keep one foot in the box between pitches. If that saves 2-3 seconds per pitch, a 300-pitch game is shortened by 10-15 minutes.

This is the exact scenario I was thinking of....could have cost the Cubs the WS

 

[B1GDeal]

No, just no, let the umps call the game.

Year after year there are controversies and threads on this board about the crappy officiating in the NFL. You know, the NFL refs used to do a good job, until replay was introduced. Now the refs in the NFL are unsure of themselves, constantly having the eye in the sky looking over their shoulders. As a result the officiating has gotten bad.

Let the officials do their jobs. Provide them training and use technology to give them feedback after the game, but let them do their jobs and keep the computers and cameras out of the game. Use the tools to train the good officials and get rid of the bad one and the officiating will improve.

I miss the days of a good manager/umpire dust-up. Now the manager looks at the video guy to see if he should challenge the call. Boring. Give me back the days of Billy Martin, Earl Weaver, Tommy Lasorda, Lou Piniella, and Bobby Valentine. Now that we've gone to the replay era baseball has lost a bit of its soul

I don't get this at all. If we can go to a computer system that can accurately call the strike zone and adjust them for taller or shorter players then why have a person behind the plate guessing? You are asking for errors to be made. There is no need if the technology is able to do the job. Nobody would argue anymore... pitchers can't bitch about not getting calls, batters can't complain about a pitch, coaches have nothing to complain about which leaves the fans drinking beers as the only people who will still complain. It's a win-win.

 

[HawkRugged17]

This guy took so long in the box, his nickname was the Human Rain Delay. Adjusts his gloves every pitch.

 

[93hawkeye]

I enjoy the pure athletic skill of major league players. I do not need the soap opera of slights, grudges, pettiness of the game and the display of self-importance by the home plate umpire.

 

[LuteHawk]

A robot umpire would be a new experience for MLB
pitchers. In high school, college, and the minor
leagues there would still be real human umpires.
So now they must adjust to the mechanical technology
which is supposed to be perfect.

Bottom Line: MLB gave us the DH, extended playoffs
to reach the World Series, and now they want to ruin
the game with robots.

 

[Raglefant]

I wont attend a game umpired by a robot.

I hate the constant tinkering. The more they screw with it....the more they will go downhill.

They want to take the human element out of the game. Rob Manfred can go get zika and rot...

 

[TJ8869]

I would watch if they had actual robots that looked like Frank Drebin.