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I haven't watched a lick of the postseason but all I keep reading about is all the blown calls and horrible umpiring throughout the playoffs. So if it has really been that bad, will Selig ever change his mind about expanding instant replay?
Interesting article by Jeff Passan (an excellent writer, by the way, and I think he's spot on here):
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-u...o&type=lgns
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Umpires added two more tick marks to their overflowing register of screw-ups Thursday night. These came in Game 2 of a World Series in which Major League Baseball broke from protocol and brought in a specific crew of veteran arbiters to ensure the miscues of the first two rounds wouldn’t dare find their way into games of such importance.
So, uh, oops?
It’s laughable at this point. It really is. It’s confounding to see players and managers and executives pooh-pooh the idea of instant replay when MLB is approaching a dozen missed calls in its most important month of the season. And it’s horrifying to see games turn not on the actions of players but of the men charged with enforcing the rules. And it’s sad that only an epic World Series will save this month from being remembered for the dodgy eyesight of middle-aged men.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--quoteo-->QUOTE <!--quotec-->Umpiring this postseason falls under such scrutiny because technology spoils us with the right call almost every time. Sure, there are situations that are inconclusive. Most are rather clear. When something so obvious remains in place despite your eyes telling you otherwise, it feels wrong and unfair, and any sympathy toward the parties who allow their poor work to be supported by flimsy reasoning disintegrates.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
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They need to just keep an umpire up in the media area in each ballpark that has veto power in any call made in the field based off television broadcasts. Then maybe look into a computer based strike zone.
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<!--quoteo(post=67636:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:12 PM:name=Scarey)-->QUOTE (Scarey @ Oct 30 2009, 12:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They need to just keep an umpire up in the media area in each ballpark that has veto power in any call made in the field based off television broadcasts. Then maybe look into a computer based strike zone.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I personally have no problem with the strike zones.....pitchers and hitters should be able to adjust to what is being called. However, on the bases is a different story. The calls these guys are blowing is ridiculous. Sure, some of them are close, but others aren't close at all. I would have no problem with instant replay in the field, but let the umps call the zone the way they see fit. Like I said, good hitters and pitchers adjust.
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The problem I see with a computer based zone is that it will be too perfect. I honestly think you would see ERA's jump on average a full run because batters would know if the ball is an inch off the corner it is going to be a ball....there has to be some leeway in the zone. If a pitcher is consistently able to spot the ball, he should get that inch.
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Man, I've been calling for a computerized umpiring system for years. The last time I floated the idea out there, most of this board jumped all over me. The most consistent line was "but umpires are part of the game!"
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They got that wierd double play call right on Wednesday night because they huddled and figured it out. There is far too little of this. It's like the plate up not ALWAYS getting help on check swings. WTF?
Less ego, more collaboration.
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I'd be perfectly fine with using replays on the basepaths. As for a computerized strike zone, one problem is it would have to adjust for the height of the batter, which I'm should be doable, but I don't think the current computerized system (that MLB Gameday utilizes) factors in the batter's height yet.
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<!--quoteo(post=67650:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They got that wierd double play call right on Wednesday night because they huddled and figured it out. There is far too little of this. It's like the plate up not ALWAYS getting help on check swings. WTF?
Less ego, more collaboration.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The fact that they needed to huddle on that play at all was absurd. It was a popout. The guy caught it. The ump was 5 feet away and immediately signaled that he caught it. He they threw to first for the double play. That was it.
I wish that I believed in Fate. I wish I didn't sleep so late. I used to be carried in the arms of cheerleaders.
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<!--quoteo(post=67711:date=Oct 30 2009, 08:58 PM:name=BT)-->QUOTE (BT @ Oct 30 2009, 08:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=67650:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They got that wierd double play call right on Wednesday night because they huddled and figured it out. There is far too little of this. It's like the plate up not ALWAYS getting help on check swings. WTF?
Less ego, more collaboration.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The fact that they needed to huddle on that play at all was absurd. It was a popout. The guy caught it. The ump was 5 feet away and immediately signaled that he caught it. He they threw to first for the double play. That was it.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Absurd, yes. But less absurd that the umpire that was chasing butterflies making the wrong call on his own.
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Yes, it's a good point that they need to collaborate more. It really pisses me off when the home plate ump won't even swallow his pride and appeal to first or third on a checked swing.
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<!--quoteo(post=67650:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM:name=jstraw)-->QUOTE (jstraw @ Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They got that wierd double play call right on Wednesday night because they huddled and figured it out. There is far too little of this. It's like the plate up not ALWAYS getting help on check swings. WTF?
Less ego, more collaboration.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the first step should be headsets. Umpires could discreetly communicate, if help is needed on a call.
I like you guys a lot.
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<!--quoteo(post=67719:date=Oct 31 2009, 12:46 AM:name=leonardsipes)-->QUOTE (leonardsipes @ Oct 31 2009, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=67650:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM:name=jstraw)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jstraw @ Oct 30 2009, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->They got that wierd double play call right on Wednesday night because they huddled and figured it out. There is far too little of this. It's like the plate up not ALWAYS getting help on check swings. WTF?
Less ego, more collaboration.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I think the first step should be headsets. Umpires could discreetly communicate, if help is needed on a call.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was thinking home plate umpires could wear electrified nipple clamps for help on checked swings. A jolt to the left nipple would be a vote from the third base ump and to the right nipple would be from the first base ump.
I've given this a lot of thought.
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<!--quoteo(post=67638:date=Oct 30 2009, 12:22 PM:name=Runnys)-->QUOTE (Runnys @ Oct 30 2009, 12:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->The problem I see with a computer based zone is that it will be too perfect. I honestly think you would see ERA's jump on average a full run because batters would know if the ball is an inch off the corner it is going to be a ball....there has to be some leeway in the zone. If a pitcher is consistently able to spot the ball, he should get that inch.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The flaw in your logic is that the strike zone is not arbitrary. If it was, it wouldn't be specifically outlined in the rule book. An inch off the plate is a ball. Not "it's a ball unless the pitcher is consistent with his pitches."
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<!--quoteo(post=67641:date=Oct 30 2009, 11:26 AM:name=Butcher)-->QUOTE (Butcher @ Oct 30 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Man, I've been calling for a computerized umpiring system for years. The last time I floated the idea out there, most of this board jumped all over me. The most consistent line was "but umpires are part of the game!"<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was one. And now I agree with you.
If Angelo had picked McClellin, I would have been expecting to hear by training camp that kid has stage 4 cancer, is actually 5'2" 142 lbs, is a chick who played in a 7 - 0 defensive scheme who only rotated in on downs which were 3 and 34 yds + so is not expecting to play a down in the NFL until the sex change is complete and she puts on another 100 lbs. + but this is Emery's first pick so he'll get a pass with a bit of questioning. - 1060Ivy
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<!--quoteo(post=67805:date=Nov 1 2009, 11:32 AM:name=bz)-->QUOTE (bz @ Nov 1 2009, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec--><!--quoteo(post=67641:date=Oct 30 2009, 11:26 AM:name=Butcher)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Butcher @ Oct 30 2009, 11:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><!--quotec-->Man, I've been calling for a computerized umpiring system for years. The last time I floated the idea out there, most of this board jumped all over me. The most consistent line was "but umpires are part of the game!"<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was one. And now I agree with you.
<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Same here.
I'm 100% fine with this. I'm just glad there's an actual plan in place that isn't, "Let's load up on retreads and hope we get lucky." I'm a little tired of that plan.
Butcher
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