Why do we still have umpires calling balls and strikes?

[nexus5rocks]

We have cameras and sensors that call it much more accurately and fairly, leaving no room for dispute.

Same for any other sport that relies on the human eye to determine something that really can't be argued, like line judges in tennis.

 

[ctbaars]

What's the fun in that. Human error and human judgment is part of the game. I referee recreational soccer. It's interesting to see how players size up all five teams.

 

[Ns1]

What's the fun in that. Human error and human judgment is part of the game. I referee recreational soccer. It's interesting to see how players size up all five teams.

it shouldn't be, at least from a ball/strike/ref perspective.

 

[nexus5rocks]

What's the fun in that. Human error and human judgment is part of the game. I referee recreational soccer. It's interesting to see how players size up all five teams.

No way, I don't want an important game to be decided by human error, or worse yet, favoritism.

Most pro-leagues have gone towards a challenge/replay system so it appears people favor fairness over tradition.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Why do we have refs calling fouls for NFL or NBA? Penalties for NHL? It's the human part of the sport.

 

[local]

Part of going to a baseball game is booing calls made by the umpires. Take that uncertainty away and the game loses a bit of its essence.

 

[brianmanahan]

why do you still wipe your butt?

we have bidets that do it much more clean and sanitary.

 

[Poulsonator]

The human element should only come from the players. It's long past time for automated balls and strikes. Home plate umps have way too much influence on the game. It shouldn't be that way.

Keep umps in the field (with replay), but the arbitrary and fluid strike zone has got to go.

 

[zinfamous]

You guys change balls and strikes, I will fucking start a civil war and burn this country to the ground.

seriously, some shit is sacred. stop your bitching and enjoy your past time like you are supposed to.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Some people like timed events, others want figure skating. Cause that's what you get with human referees making calls instead of arbitrary systems... FIGURE SKATING.
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Or worse, soccer.

 

[nexus5rocks]

Why do we have refs calling fouls for NFL or NBA? Penalties for NHL? It's the human part of the sport.

Can electronics determine what's a foul?

 

[zinfamous]

Some people like timed events, others want figure skating. Cause that's what you get with human referees making calls instead of arbitrary systems... FIGURE SKATING.
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.
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Or worse, soccer.

There is a scoring system like in any other real sport.

Sorry, baseball is nothing like figure skating.

Baseball has been working on this strikezone nonsense for over a decade now as they have already been active in nearly ever game, and from what I recall, homeplate accuracy between human strike zones and computer-determined strikezones is statistically insignificant. No valid reason to make such a drastic overhaul because of random outliers that lead to a handful of butthurt fans only once every couple of years

 

[Phoenix86]

You guys change balls and strikes, I will fucking start a civil war and burn this country to the ground.

seriously, some shit is sacred. stop your bitching and enjoy your past time like you are supposed to.

Who said anything about changing it? How about calling the same pitch the same way every time? If anything, having an ump changes balls and strikes.

 

[zinfamous]

Can electronics determine what's a foul?

I think the best use of electrons when it comes to fouls--or better yet flopping--is to review every game after the fact and directly fine players for every egregious act of flopping within each game.

This isn't something (Stoppage to review fouls) that belongs during the game, but is a behavior that needs serious correcting.

Time to put an end to overpaid children crying about boo-boos in their games.

 

[zinfamous]

Who said anything about changing it? How about calling the same pitch the same way every time? If anything, having an ump changes balls and strikes.

This is how the game is and this is how we like it.

GTFO, commie!

First they gave me the Wild Card, and I said nothing.
Then, they extended the NBA playoff series, yet I said nothing.
Next, they added a Wildcard play-in game for pussies, yet still I said nothing.
Now they want to remove humans from the game and turn it into Robot-Jox. I was getting a beer. wait--what?

 

[cubby1223]

What's the fun in that. Human error and human judgment is part of the game. I referee recreational soccer. It's interesting to see how players size up all five teams.

Human error & judgment was only made a part of the game because at the time they didn't have any better options. Now we do.

Game changes all the time. Throwing a ball and hitting the runner in the back used to be an integral part of the game to make an out. The game changed in the past, the game will change in the future.

 

[cubby1223]

There is a scoring system like in any other real sport.

Sorry, baseball is nothing like figure skating.

Baseball has been working on this strikezone nonsense for over a decade now as they have already been active in nearly ever game, and from what I recall, homeplate accuracy between human strike zones and computer-determined strikezones is statistically insignificant. No valid reason to make such a drastic overhaul because of random outliers that lead to a handful of butthurt fans only once every couple of years

I just searched this topic earlier today and saw some compiled stats saying umpire calls and calls observed with technology say that on average 10% of an MLB ump's calls are wrong. That's a little more than "random outliers".

 

[Dr. Zaus]

Why do we still have people swinging bats and throwing balls? We have robots that can pitch and hit way better.

Yelling at the umpire is the reason my team keeps losing!

Same reason R&Ds complain about voter suppression when they lose.

 

[Phoenix86]

There is a scoring system like in any other real sport.

The center tagger lights a pinecone on fire and throws it to the player at whack-bat. The player hits the pinecone and runs to knock a cedar stick off the cross rods. Then the twig-runners dash back and forth until the pinecone burns out and the umpire calls "Hot box." Finally, the scoredowns are added up, then divided by nine.

 

[Strk]

why do you still wipe your butt?

we have bidets that do it much more clean and sanitary.

Oh you plebeians not knowing how to use the three seashells!

 

[zinfamous]

I just searched this topic earlier today and saw some compiled stats saying umpire calls and calls observed with technology say that on average 10% of an MLB ump's calls are wrong. That's a little more than "random outliers".

I last investigated this ~8 years ago...so shut up.

The center tagger lights a pinecone on fire and throws it to the player at whack-bat. The player hits the pinecone and runs to knock a cedar stick off the cross rods. Then the twig-runners dash back and forth until the pinecone burns out and the umpire calls "Hot box." Finally, the scoredowns are added up, then divided by nine.

That sounds like a real sport. Where do I sign up?

 

[Phoenix86]

That sounds like a real sport. Where do I sign up?

I don't know, we don't have whack-bat on this side of the river.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

 

[MongGrel]

The center tagger lights a pinecone on fire and throws it to the player at whack-bat. The player hits the pinecone and runs to knock a cedar stick off the cross rods. Then the twig-runners dash back and forth until the pinecone burns out and the umpire calls "Hot box." Finally, the scoredowns are added up, then divided by nine.

:biggrin:

Oh you plebeians not knowing how to use the three seashells!

Umpires and referees seems to retain that human element to the game, they can screw up just like the players can.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBU5e2HqcrA

 

[Phoenix86]

xkcd comic

Love me some XKCD, mouseover text is often just as good.

The thrower started hitting the bats too much, so the king of the game told him to leave and brought out another thrower from thrower jail.

edit: wow, the newest one. No wonder I haven't seen it yet.