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Augiedog

(2,634 posts)
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:27 AM Wednesday

Automatic pitch calling instead of umpires.

Just a note about the relevance of umpires and the experiment of strike/ball detection/challenges by cameras.

In last nights All Star game 5 pitches were challenged, 4 were reversed. This is in some sense remarkably good. Good in that so few errors were made.

In the average Major League Baseball game an average of 290 pitches are thrown collectively.

4 errors is 1.37 percentage of 290. That is, while a single sample, remarkable. It shows just how good the umpires are, at least in this one game. A game that is being used to help determine whether or not to use cameras to challenge pitch calls.

I say hats off to the umpires and a bit of caution to those who want to insert machines into this process….careful of what you wish for.

7 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Automatic pitch calling instead of umpires. (Original Post) Augiedog Wednesday OP
I very much did not enjoy the strike challenge Bristlecone Wednesday #1
I think they were limited in the number of challenges. Would love to see ump's call vs computer for all 290 pitches. Silent Type Wednesday #2
Each team is allotted two challenges per game... Wounded Bear Wednesday #5
This message was self-deleted by its author Raven123 Wednesday #3
I must go look up how the automated balls & strikes machines are faring in the minor leagues True Dough Wednesday #4
See my post #5 above... Wounded Bear Wednesday #6
Absolutely not! Oeditpus Rex Wednesday #7

Bristlecone

(10,811 posts)
1. I very much did not enjoy the strike challenge
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:34 AM
Wednesday

It’s not a game of wiffle ball where the slightest nick of the lawn chair you set behind your little brother is used as a combo strike zone/backstop . And that square seemed pretty static, regardless of the size of the batter. Maybe the last part was adjusted for ease of viewing, but still disliked it tremendously.

Silent Type

(10,516 posts)
2. I think they were limited in the number of challenges. Would love to see ump's call vs computer for all 290 pitches.
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:55 AM
Wednesday

With that said, I prefer ump's calling games.

Though can't wait for a manager to grab a computer and smash it on home plate over a call.

Wounded Bear

(62,532 posts)
5. Each team is allotted two challenges per game...
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 02:13 PM
Wednesday

If a challenge is upheld, the challenge opportunity is retained. If the challenge is not upheld, the team loses that challenge.

Only the pitcher, catcher, or batter may challenge. No kibutzing by the bench/coaches.

They did this for the entire spring baseball season. Usually only takes a few seconds and doesn't really delay the game much in what I've seen.

I like it.

Response to Augiedog (Original post)

True Dough

(23,701 posts)
4. I must go look up how the automated balls & strikes machines are faring in the minor leagues
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 11:13 AM
Wednesday

My understanding is if that experiment is going well, we're going to see the technology put in place in MLB for part of next season.

Wounded Bear

(62,532 posts)
6. See my post #5 above...
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 02:15 PM
Wednesday

They did this for all of spring baseball this year. Works pretty well IMHO. Does not really drag down the game like the NFL challenges, or even the baseball challenges for base running, etc.

Oeditpus Rex

(42,106 posts)
7. Absolutely not!
Wed Jul 16, 2025, 10:57 PM
Wednesday

I'm strongly opposed to anything baseball does that affects the human element of the game.

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