http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/14599589/re-imagining-baseball-robot-umpires-home-plate What do you guys think? Personally I think if the technology is there then use it. Frankly, I'm tired of the strike zone being whatever that night's umpire thinks it should be.
...^^^Mess, I saw this earlier...and yes, I agree that Umps are not perfect but I'm not sure the "technology" is tweaked well enough yet to turn it completely over to the digital age. ...I'd like it to be used in the minors first, as a trial, so it can be "tweaked" and improved upon...one concern I have is how would the "robot" be able to adjust for the different strike zones for players of different heights?...I mean the strike zone for Jose Altuve has gotta be different than it would be for someone who is nearly a foot taller. ...but I also think there should be a way to somehow integrate this technology to assist the Ump to make the correct call.
I'm still okay with the way things are..............................................................................................................................................for now.
Ron...easy to adjust for players. All these guys have had biomechanical scans for digitization as part of inclusion in MLB video games. Use those data sets an have an ump load lineups and make adjustments during the game for substitutions. As for trial in the minors...that could cause translation issues for call ups. Rather try it for ST games. Still gonna need blue back there to dispense balls and run the crew.
...^^^ this is part of problem with today's society and its woefully misguided "technology" run amok. Just because we CAN do something does not necessarily mean we SHOULD do something. Our technology is rapidly outdistancing our mental ability to use it where it's needed most and our new "smart" technology is gradually making us "dumb". ... And the height of the strike was not only one reason why IMO, we're not ready to arbitrarily use "robots". Robot Umps may be the future of Baseball but not right now because there are still way too many questions and concerns to consider......what's next, robots replacing players? ...and your reference to "translation issues for call ups" for umpires also applies to young players/batter just as well which is the reason I said I'd rather it be started in the Minors. ...over the course of 162 games, I think things even out and pitchers getting squeezed are probably equal to batters getting squeezed. ...for the foreseeable future at least, I think that "pitchFX" and technology like it, should continue to be used to "umpire the Umpires", as it has for several years now. Because believe it or not, since these teaching tools have been implemented circa 2008, Umps have actually gotten better at calling balls and strikes. ...but for now, this subject is little more than fodder for "office water cooler" and message board discussions.
Not sure how a robot ump dumbs down society. Maybe impact a handful of jobs, folks not revered for their intelligence. Robots and AI are correctly applied to operations that require both precision and accuracy. Without such we'd be having this conversation over a couple of cans and a long string from CA to Arkansas. Once tested, it should be easier to deploy than instant replay. I understand this concept of change is hard, but it is the future.
