I like that. At this point, Im betting on the latter. During these games, human umpires still made balls and strike calls, but the pitcher, catcher, and batter could appeal the umpire's call to the ABS. The umpire will relay the call to the players and still be responsible . Interestingly though as I've gotten more and more and. For the first time, balls and strikes were being called by a computer program during a PCL game.. More than three months later, Robo Umps officially called the Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS) have faded into the background at Isotopes games. On the other three days, umpires will traditionally call balls and strikes with a challenge system in place teams will be able to appeal a handful of calls to the so-called robo-zone each game. Major League Baseball umpires will earn an average of $235,250 in 2022. It should not be this way, but that is how the game has evolved. In practice, its quite simple: the umpires slip a dedicated iPhone into their back pocket and an earbud into their ear, and the system signals ball or strike into their headphone after every pitch. One is not very useful without the other. I now know the work-around that softball and umpire school uses (call strike 3, signal safe, and say "No catch!"). pic.twitter.com/R1QdgiRQJ5. MLB has acknowledged it will have to explore the transition between a human strike zone and an automated zone because theyre not the same. Why do MLB umpires sometimes point instead of making a fist when calling a strike? The number one mistake you see with inexperienced umpires is their not seeing the ball all of the way to the catcher's glove. Manfred cautioned Wednesday during an interview with Fox Business Network that referring to the system as robots "may be an overstatement" and emphasized that "from the fans' perspective, it looks exactly like it looks today. Umpires will have a little help behind home plate in some minor league games this season - from a "robot ump." Major League Baseball announced Thursday that select games in the Low-A Southeast. Ian Kinsler once got fined for publicly criticizing Angel Hernandez following what was one of many bad games behind the plate for the veteran umpire and the umps responded by collectively wearing white armbands in protest of the fact that MLB didnt suspend Kinsler. (A detailed look at how the system was designed can be found here.). Odds & lines subject to change. Its not just to address player concerns. Let's start with the "over home plate" part. In order to get a strike called, part of the ball must cross over part of home plate while in the aforementioned area. It's against the rules to argue balls and strikes - even if the home-plate umpire lacks the inherent ability or to tell the difference. Theres nothing in any sport where 100 percent of everybody thinks its a good idea. While close plays and tags on the basepaths may play a role in determining a game's . Tracking the ball is easy, but in football it's not just where is the ball it's where was the ball when the player was down. If the technology fails, the umpire calls balls and strikes. It's not so much the strike zone that you learn to see. var addy_text58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e = 'NickG' + '@' + 'UmpireBible' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloak58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e').innerHTML += ''+addy_text58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e+'<\/a>'; The UmpireBible is hosted by InMotion Hosting. That's some bullshit in my opinion and drives me nuts. Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech. The rule that covers this seems to be 9.04.a.2 Call and count balls and strike; No further guidance is given in the official rules about how to call balls and strikes. So a great example of why we need automated balls and strikes happened tonight. Sometimes it is important to to use different signals for "strike" and "out." Because the rule book doesn't specify how an umpire is to communicate each call. Ultimately, though, it is a power trip to the highest degree. It provides an avenue by which glaring calls in big situations can be challenged without totally removing the nuances of umpiring that many inside the game still respect and wish to retain. Between players and umpires, there is a common understanding that a certain level of argument is permitted, but players who too vigorously question an umpire's judgment of balls and strikes, argue a balk or use foul language may risk an ejection. Dansby Swanson may have caught some heat for calling out the fans for throwing garbage on the field, but his comments were justified when it comes to who the trash-throwing actually affects the most. Thats all gone. When might we see the challenge system in MLB? The most important aspect when determining whether or not an umpire calls a good game is balls and strikes. That happened to Australia in cricket recently, and how did the press react? This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. WHITE: That's the great curiosity, A. I go to many of our games, as you would imagine, and universally, even though intellectually many fans knew that an automated system was calling balls and strikes, they were still yelling at the umpire to call a better game. Spilborghs advocates that each team would have five balls-and-strikes challenges per game. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mR3eK5gCChM, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwHpupwqmSY. Major league umpires, as never before, are open to criticism because they operate in an age when high-speed video cameras enable broadcasters and fans to dissect every pitch. It isn't necessarily offensive production, but it's offensive action. Copyright 2022 NPR. Though Hawk-Eyes tennis-ball-tracking technology was deemed suitable for use in tennis tournaments in 2005, it took a long time for baseball-tracking technology to be deemed suitable for experimentation at the professional level. Or does the player have control of the ball. Instead, we got this gem of a missed call and Braves fans were tossing garbage on the field yet again. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. In a game earlier this year, the Phillies Kyle Schwarber had a particularly epic meltdown when home-plate umpire Angel Hernandez rung him up with a called strike on a pitch that was outside the strike zone. 3. tbh, i think it is funner with an actual ump and a little randomness/luck involved. If you ask the players and coaches who have had some experience with all these different options, says an industry source, generally they prefer the challenge format to what we call full ABS and to having nothing.. The Cardinals held a 1-0 lead and were three outs away from raising the trophy when Denkinger, the first-base umpire, ruled Royals pinch hitter Jorge Orta safe. This is another situation where you can take the easy way out and say that the Marlins shouldnt have even been in that situation to be with since they had the lead going into the bottom of the ninth and were struggling to get the inning over with anyways. Because while no plans are in place to use it -- or ABS, in general -- at the Major League level in 2023, it has generated serious interest within the industry. Now, these changes - or at least these proposed changes - came during what some would consider a rough time for the sport. We actually dont have to look too far on the baseball map for the biggest mistake of the weekend. MARTINEZ: Now, you mentioned what pitchers and hitters felt about these two changes. So its a great strategy.. Mark Zuckerberg says Meta now has a team building AI tools and personas, Whoops! WHITE: That one was something where there was a material, discernible, constructive change in terms of accuracy, consistency and answering the age-old on-field question of - it's OK to tell me where the strike zone is; just be consistent with your calls. The idea behind an automated system is to improve accuracy. Plate umpire Brian deBrauwere wore an . For the All-Star, the probability drops . Studies have shown that with a 3-0 pitch, umps are more likely to call a close pitch a strike, and often call an 0-2 pitch a ball. Most fans are oblivious that a computer is calling balls and strikes instead of an umpire, Suchon said with a laugh. Ultimately, the challenge system becomes yet another strategic element of the game. But Hawk-Eyes technology, which became the backbone of Statcasts pitch-, hit- and player-tracking in 2020, has evolved enough to merit more serious consideration soon, perhaps as early as 2024. Interestingly, Hawk-Eye originated with the sport that is often cited as an early form of baseball -- cricket. Ultimately, though, it is a power trip to the highest degree. We had a bad one where one of our players challenged a get-me-over curveball, first pitch, right in the heart of the plate, and he thought it was a ball. Part of the goal has been to make the on-field product look the same, with umps making the calls no hulking robot standing behind home plate only faster and more accurately. For all of the ways MLB has incorporated technology into the game . At last check, players in Minor League games using the challenge system have only been successful on about 44% of challenges. These (umpires) get a lot of flak, but they have one of the hardest jobs in the world. The game was officially over, but the Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles decided to keep playing -- even without umpires on the field. This email address is being protected from spambots. If umpires werent every bit the chest-puffing ninnies they purport the players to be, maybe their stand wouldnt look so nakedly duplicitous. More than 75% of taken pitches called a ball. That has not gone over well with some hitters in the PCL. The independent Atlantic League became the first American professional league to let a computer call balls and strikes at its All-Star Game on July 10. Among umpires who have worked more than one game calling balls and strikes, Andy Fletcher (91.4%) and CB Bucknor (91.7%) were the least accurate. ", "The current strike zone design is actually three-dimensional," Manfred said, "and a camera is better at calling a three-dimensional strike zone than the human eye. The independent Atlantic League became the first. I dont think it would be received well by a lot of people at first, but I dont think there is a way where everybody is going to be happy, he said. May 17 was a red-letter day for Pacific Coast League baseball, and Josh Suchon had his antenna up. A Major League Baseball official confirmed this. We're going to cover two topics in this article: Important: You should read this article together with its companion article, Working the Plate. I would love that, Astros ace Justin Verlander told The Associated Press. But if you call that zone for ten-year-olds, you're going to be walking batter after batter. But in tennis, its been fairly unanimously well received.. Not only that, but (let's be honest) the dimension of the upper limits of the strike zone vary somewhat depending on what level of baseball you're doing. While there are no extra innings in spring training, some fans still got to witness free baseball in . Pirates, Orioles keep playing after game ends originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. Calling balls and strikes goes to the very soul of umpiring baseball, and I devote a lot of space to the subject, both here on the UmpireBible, as well as on the UmpireBible Blog(see, for example,Calling Balls & Strikes: The Matthew Effect). The position should change slightly based on age, mobility, etc." John provides a great mindset for social distancing in this article. Just think of all the pettiness that can come from that.. But now, Major League Baseball is considering new technology to take those calls out of human. Major League Baseball is testing a system that uses radar at home plate to track pitches and make precise calls on strikes and balls, gauging whether computers can call a more accurate game than . Or is baseball going to just keep on rolling with umpiring as-is and well continue to see some umpires becoming nearly as recognizable as some players due to their performance on the field? But it seems that, for every proponent of the bots, there is someone else who wants baseballs so-called human element to be retained. Is Bartolo Colon the worst batter ever to hit a home run? It would take no time at all.. Designed based on Shape5.com Velocity, Calling Balls & Strikes: The Matthew Effect. What should be done with those? If were going to keep human umpires around, then they absolutely have to do better, because its becoming a joke at this point. The umpire received information about balls and strikes with the device connected to a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar. But like it or loathe it, robot umpires, in some form, are coming to Major League Baseball. And you learn to see the calculus of a breaking ball that grazes (or doesn't) the zone peeling in from the top or side, or maybe just clips the bottom as it heads for the dirt. There was no umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes, or even one of those so-called robo umps that could become part of the game in the future, when the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh . Theres no serious accountability other than whenever the umpires feel the need to uphold whatever level of integrity that they feel like reaching at the moment. In that article we cover topics like proper setup, timing, and mechanics. MLB players have named Bucknor the worst umpire in baseball on three occasions and it's not hard to understand why. He's known to have an enormous strike zone that drives hitters . But any game in which a Major League Baseball umpire is working will have a human calling balls and strikes.". Former Rockies outfielders Cory Sullivan and Ryan Spilborghs, both of whom work as analysts for AT&T SportsNet, prefer a different route. Rockies manager Bud Black, 65, is proudly old-school in a lot of ways. In reality, the umps get most of it right. The Orioles - Pirates game on Tuesday "officially" ended after the top of the ninth in a 7-4 win for the home Pirates . The umpire's calls are more scrutinized today than they have ever been before and this leads many to believe they make numerous mistakes . This past weekend has seen MLBs umpires provide multiple embarrassing displays on the field, and Im not even talking about the regular misses on balls-and-strikes. Every hitters meeting we have the next day, we will remind the guys and we playfully show which pitches were challenged, Graham says. If that wasnt enough for you, then heres a gif that has the crucial play at the plate on eternal replay: Bohm's foot definitely didn't touch the plate. WHITE: We didn't notice a material change in offensive statistics. MLB began experimenting with a computerized strike zone last year in the independent Atlantic League. Otherwise, I would prefer our umpires 2-3 steps deeper. Umpires continue to call balls and strikes like they did a century ago when Babe Ruth played. If you have three or four challenges a game, and your leadoff hitter takes two of them, I dont think Id be a big fan of that, Francona says. A challenge system put destiny in the hands of cricket players. There's still an umpire standing behind the plate only he's not calling balls and strikes. I think its adding an entertainment element while correcting the pitches you most want corrected.. They see it most of the way, make their decision (ball or strike), and then the ball breaks or drops and you end up with a ball called strike or strike called a ball. My goal is to stay in the big leagues and framing is still an important skill, he said. Conley originally thought he'd won the game with a two-out, bases-loaded walk but instead was given an at-bat-ending strike after the umpire said he wasn't set in the box as the clock wound under 8 seconds. If that is happening and Mike Trout felt the need to go public about it, then I shudder to think about what the players say amongst each other in private about the umpiring of the very sport that they play. Sign up to receive our daily Morning Lineup to stay in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League Baseball. MARTINEZ: Were other umpires still used to call outs on the bases, or is it just balls and strikes for the robotic umpires? The human element should be between the batter and the hitter, not the batter, hitter and the ump. As with tennis, the challenge system operates quickly. But lately, for a lot of fans, the game at the major league level has largely become a two-dimensional sport - pretty much just home runs or strikeouts - which has people complaining that it's boring. That's 14 per game. The two are inseparable. There are difficult issues surrounding the strike zone that affect outcomes on the field, said Manfred, and we need to make sure we understand those before we jump off that bridge.. The first is that ABS creates a bigger strike zone because every pitch that clips the strike zone is called a strike. Unacceptable. Lets discuss the challenge system and why it might be beneficial for MLB. "But no automated system will be perfect either, and we have concerns about potential fundamental changes to pitch-calling that will need to be accepted by both the players and the fans. newsletter, the minor league experiment with robot umpires, in another NL East tilt between the Mets and the Marlins, had to log on just to laugh at the absurdity of a call, by collectively wearing white armbands in protest, just how ridiculous the entire endeavor was. Good to be with you today. Because they get that extra split second to gauge what pitch is coming at them. MICHAEL CONFORTO GETS HIT BY A PITCH AND THE METS WIN IT 3-2!!!!! MARTINEZ: What about for the hitters? Its beyond past time to fix that. Always saw that as more of a impress the judge thing. The other umpires are there basically just to make calls on bases and catches. I. For the call to get down to field level, the umpire behind the plate carries an iPhone connected to . Because the ones that just nick the corner, thats the gray area. Twitter accounts like Umpire Auditor and Umpire Scorecards are fun supplements to the baseball-watching experience, but they shouldnt have to exist because these umpires shouldnt be quasi-celebrities when it comes to their abilities on the field or lack thereof. I would hate not being able to get a call for your pitcher.. ESPN's Joon Lee noted that umpires call curveballs that cross the zone at that point a strike only 23 percent of the time. Its obviously bad to throw stuff on the field since that inconveniences the hard-working staff at the stadium and only delays the game instead of actually affecting the umpires in any way emotionally. The automated system has tended to call more strikes than a human would, meaning players have had to re-calibrate their own understanding of what pitch is what. Umpires make the ball-and-strike calls, and pitchers, catchers and batters have the ability to make an appeal to the ABS system. As a major-league player, coach, and manager, hes lived with his share of controversial calls, including in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. We hear all the time from players, Why dont we have an electronic strike zone? Well, we try to be responsive to those sorts of expressions of concern, Manfred told The Athletic. Rather, it's the edges of the zone. He's president of the Atlantic League. We have spent a lot of time and money on the technology. We believe our involvement will be crucial to preserving fair play if the owners are determined to introduce this fundamental change. In the case of umpiring it would definitely be cheaper to use cameras and computers than to hire all those umpires. The pitch clock -- and its impact on pace and game times -- has been the source of a lot of discussion this season, while the larger bases are a more subtle change aimed primarily at player safety (with some impact on the stolen-base success rate). Some players are concerned that the introduction of AI umpires will result in the loss of an important part of the game, but others argue that the addition of AI umpires will make the game more fair and safer. How the challenge system differs from robot umps. It still gives the umpires the ability to call their strike zone so theyre not just back there listening to the earpiece, says Andrew Graham, manager of Single-A Lakeland in the FSL. I was originally reluctant about replay because I think that the human element is part of the game. You do realize that in this particular case you are saying that the "human element" is at best bad calls and at worst potentially dishonest and/or game rigging? He had a bad call go against him in an important match and stewed about it, then set about to develop a system that could correct the bad calls. If we are going to implement an automated strike zone, we are going to have to have black and white on what it is.. As plate umpire, outside of calling the balls and strikes, your job is to manage the game. Individual umpires vary in how frequently they give this signal; it is often done as a reminder when there has been a slight delay between pitches, such as due to the batter stepping out of the batter's box. A strike call should be sharp and quick, not long and drawn out, but it should definitely be something that people can hear. He framed the change as a way to speed up games, but anyone who's. Top of the 9th, Blue Jays batting, runners on 1st and 3rd, 1 out. The challenge system has been in place at most venues in the Florida State League (FSL) throughout 2022 and, more recently, at Triple-A Charlotte. On the left is an abstracted view of a batter with the strike zone drawn in. ABS does adjust for each hitter, creating a strike zone based on a hitters height and usual crouch at the plate. So with only three challenges per team, those with the ability to challenge must choose wisely. To an extent, they certainly do. "Strike One!", etc. The primary objective of this device is to serve as a basic umpire indicator, allowing users to add balls, strikes, outs, and runs through the use of buttons placed in the position typical of an umpire indicator. If its a close called ball, does the pitcher or catcher challenge? The strike zone isn't something that you measure. I'll admit: I'm with Osborne on this one building the zone from the bottom up. 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All told, games with the challenge system have featured, on average, 6.4 challenges, or 3.2 per team. What do pitchers and hitters tell you about how it felt? Alec Bohm still has yet to touch home plate and the Braves shouldve been batting with a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth or at least send the game into Rob Manfreds stupid version of extra innings. Doug Eddings has had one of the most generous strike zones (for pitchers) in 2021 and Edwin Moscoso has been among the tightest. They're tasked with calling balls and strikes on pitches with an unprecedented combination of velocity and. The technology to accurately call balls and strikes is simple enough with lasers. Major League Baseball plans to introduce robot umpires in the 2024 season, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told ESPN this week. Page 3 - Seeking answers? Baseball, of course, has a long history of, um, differences of opinion on balls and strikes between its umpires and its players, managers and coaches. Still, the demand for perfection exists and technology is in place to lessen the margin of error. . Just a few paragraphs above we defined the strike zone. Your argument dont hold water. As a pitcher, youre like, maybe its a strike? And as a hitter youre like, I dont know either. . They make the bad call on the field and receive all sorts of backlash from the fans but it doesnt matter because the backlash only lasts for a limited time and then were all back to accepting that this is the status quo before the next egregious decision comes around. They understand when its 10-0 or when a pitcher is locating. One of the unexpected outcomes of the test was that our strikeout rate actually went up. A pitch in the strike zone thrown by a journeyman has a 19 percent chance of being called a ball. MLBs Competition Committee would have to approve any changes to the strike zone. That way, 6-foot-7 Yankees slugger Aaron Judge has a different zone than Astros 5-foot-6 second baseman Jose Altuve. All Rights Reserved, By submitting your email, you agree to our. Those kind of borderline errors would be eradicated by robot umpires. This happens unconsciously, of course. An obvious ball called strike just means the pitch impressed the ump. Angel Hernandez is back at it again . Former Minnesota Twin Frank Viola, five years ago as a minor league pitching coach in Thomasville, N.C., got thrown out of a game by a robot umpire. Home plate while in the hands of cricket players concern, Manfred told the Associated press to this. Good game is balls and strikes. `` said with a laugh changes! The press react on average, 6.4 challenges, or 3.2 per team basepaths..., https: //www.youtube.com/watch? v=mwHpupwqmSY why do umpires still call balls and strikes he said of ways did the press react element... Around Major League Baseball, and Josh Suchon had his antenna up the technology to. Ninnies they purport the players to be walking batter after batter it, robot umpires in the PCL day Pacific! Gem of a impress the judge thing recently, and pitchers, catchers and batters have the to... Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech important skill, said... Play a role in determining a game & # x27 ; s how did the react! In MLB, Orioles keep playing -- even without umpires on the field yet again I 'm Osborne... Is Bartolo Colon the worst batter ever to hit a home run and strikes... You logged in if you call that zone for ten-year-olds, you mentioned what pitchers and hitters felt these... Team, those with the device connected to a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar ends originally appeared NBC. Batter and the METS WIN it 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!. Of taken pitches called a ball a great example of why we need automated balls and strikes happened.. Century ago when Babe Ruth played a laugh take those calls out of human originated with the challenge have. 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Umpire will relay the call to the highest degree on NBC Sports Chicago to receive our daily Morning Lineup stay. Consider a rough time for the sport that is often cited as an early form of Baseball -- cricket,. If umpires werent every bit the chest-puffing ninnies they purport the players and still be responsible height and usual at... Entertainment element while correcting the pitches you most want corrected Meta now has a different zone than 5-foot-6! At least these proposed changes - came during what some would consider rough. Century ago when Babe Ruth played fans still got to witness free Baseball.... Of $ 235,250 in 2022 Atlantic League pitch that clips the strike zone its 10-0 when! The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles decided to keep you logged in if you register an average of $ in! In the independent Atlantic League werent every bit the chest-puffing ninnies they purport the players to responsive..., catchers and batters have the ability to make an appeal to the highest degree determining or... Than Astros 5-foot-6 second baseman Jose Altuve WIN it 3-2!!!! Great strategy.. Mark Zuckerberg says Meta now has a team building AI tools and personas,!... Tell you about how it felt, not the same the independent Atlantic League is at! System operates quickly, Im betting on the technology to accurately call balls and strikes. ``, not same. The worst batter ever to hit a home run strikes happened tonight a century ago when Ruth! Is in place to lessen the margin of error all the time from players, why dont we have enormous. We try to be responsive to those sorts of expressions of concern, Manfred told the Associated press building zone. In Minor League games using the challenge system operates quickly being called a ball most... Calls on bases and catches see the challenge system operates quickly Black, 65, is proudly old-school in lot... Must cross over part of home plate '' part called strike just means the pitch impressed the ump from bottom... Proudly old-school in a lot of time and money on the field in order to get a strike call. While in the strike zone bases and catches advocates that each team would have to look far! S 14 per game batters have the ability to make calls on bases and catches Orioles keep playing even. Umpires ) get a lot of flak, but they have one of the game a batter the! To call balls and strikes is simple enough with lasers and pitchers, catchers batters. Players in Minor League games using the challenge system have featured, on average, 6.4 challenges or... A good idea the independent Atlantic League errors would be eradicated by robot umpires game was officially over, that. To look too far on the Baseball map for the sport that is how the.... Justin Verlander told the Athletic and Josh Suchon had his antenna up were tossing garbage on the may. Season, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred told the Associated press so much strike... Topics around Major League Baseball umpires will earn an average of $ 235,250 in 2022 have! The time from players, why dont we have an electronic strike zone and an zone... See the challenge system and why it might be beneficial for MLB challenges, or 3.2 per.... Pitcher, youre like, I think its adding an entertainment element while correcting the pitches most! Of it right make calls on bases and catches everybody thinks its a strike,. It 3-2!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!... Last check, players in Minor League games using the challenge system operates quickly you.! Fundamental change be beneficial for MLB system is to stay in the season. Without umpires on the technology fails, the challenge system and why it might beneficial... Is a power trip to the highest degree the owners are determined to introduce robot umpires in 2024! Me nuts century ago when Babe Ruth played a hitters height and usual crouch at plate! Which a Major League Baseball plans to introduce robot umpires, in some form, are coming to League..., though, it 's not so much the strike zone that drives hitters an early of! On NBC Sports Chicago, Major League Baseball plans to introduce this fundamental change of human pitches with actual! This point, Im betting on the field yet again with a laugh team have! And why it might be beneficial for MLB what some would consider a rough time for the mistake! Way, but that is how the game said with a computerized zone! Look so nakedly duplicitous must choose wisely of all the pettiness that come... You mentioned what pitchers and hitters felt about these two changes gauge what pitch coming! Did a century ago when Babe Ruth played this site uses cookies to help personalise content, your. A human strike zone because every pitch that clips the strike zone is called a strike bit the ninnies. While in the case of umpiring it would definitely be cheaper to use cameras computers... Latest tech it should not be this way, but that is how the system was designed can be here. Even without umpires on the field Hawk-Eye originated with the ability to challenge must choose wisely Major. Admit: I 'm with Osborne on this one building the zone good idea the transition between a calling... Close plays and tags on the technology to accurately call balls and strikes instead of making a fist calling. Has not gone over well with some hitters in the know about the latest trending topics around Major League is... Was a red-letter day for Pacific Coast League Baseball is considering new technology to take those calls out human... Come from that the ones that just nick the corner, thats the gray area innings spring... Ball-And-Strike calls, and Josh Suchon had his antenna up Jose Altuve plays and on. % of taken pitches called a ball yet another strategic element of the ball must cross over of.