It is time for Major League Baseball umpires to stop calling balls and strikes

Business Insider ^ | September 6, 2015 | Cork Gaines

[EveningStar]

Having umpires call balls and strikes is one of the most fundamental aspects of both the game of baseball and the profession of Major League Baseball umpires. But as we get better at recognizing what is really a strike it is becoming painfully obvious that it is time for the umps to give up the responsibility.

[righttackle44]

Well, let's just take away all the fundamentals of the game. How about, instead of playing the game, the two team managers simply meet together and, after a coin toss, the coin-toss-winning manager draws a lot with a W or L? That's the game. No umpires, no player, two managers, and several guys to keep track of the wins and losses..

And then we can chase down you guys who approved this and hurt you really, really bad.

[stocksthatgoup]

Don’t let Tom Brady near the cameras.

[dfwgator]

You’re right, they made a big boo boo there.

[dfwgator]

Of course also having the Angels playing in Dodger Stadium was the other one.

[Calvin Locke]

Ah, chipping the shoes and the ball? Along with qr-codes?

[Mariner]

"But why should the strike zone be different in the leagues and change once again during the playoffs?"

Why should the AL have the DH and NL not?

Why should the "close enough" tag of the base at 2nd on a DP be OK in the AL and not in the NL?

And don't even get me going on balks. How about the infield single vs error? Was it really a double or did the OF flub the trajectory to the ball?

It's the difference between a naturally fermented pickle and a sterile, store-bought one. Baseball is rich on tradition, strategy and color. Take that away and it fatally damages the game.

[PGalt]

But I haven’t cared about baseball since the Indians traded Rocky!

I missed Kuenn but really enjoyed Rocky. The Tigers haven't had left-fielder like him since (although Willie Horton was very good). Sheesh, I sure hated to see Cespedes go recently. He may have been the best we've had at that position but his stay was way too short.

[Fungi]

You made my point. The AL introduced the DH and now it is alternated for the World series. Again, the human factor seems to be more important than consistent, hard and fast rules.

[discostu]

At least a decade past time. When Curt Schilling said he studied tape of umps to get a handle on their version of the strike zone that should have spawned panic in the halls of the MLB and they should have fixed it, with firing or technology.

[867V309]

You can always trust the Iranian ballplayers.

You read my mind.

[Vermont Lt]

Actually you would do it from sensors in the plate and video from the outfield.

Most balks are called from the corners.

[buffaloguy]

No. Bad idea, whom would you insult? The sysop?

[al baby]

Hey ES lets go to an Angel game I will kiss you onthe strikes and you can kiss me on the .............. Oh nevermind happy Sunday to you

[Jack023]

That’s true. What about palming the ball? Jordan got away with murder. He’s the most over-rated NBA player ever.

Can you imagine the records Jerry West or Oscar Robertson or any of the guys from the old days would have if they could have played under the “rules” Jordan played under?

[Hebrews 11:6]

If the average even after recent improvements is 14% missed calls, then some umps approach 20%, which is preposterously unacceptable. We discussed this on BillJamesOnline and agreed an earpiece could instantaneously signal the home plate umpire how KZone saw it, leaving him to exercise his judgment if he wished--but he'd be accountable to headquarters if he got carried away with such independence.

This is being tested in the minor leagues and will be in place by 2018, or 2020 at the latest.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Next let’s check out the NBA referees. Why do they never call traveling in the NBA?? Players can run and take 3 steps without dribbling the ball and the refs still don’t call traveling.

C'mon man. Superstars wouldn't be superstars if they had to dribble more than once from mid-court. If they called basketball according to the rules, the final score would be 19-14. BTW, I'm a big fan of reducing the diameter of the basket 2 inches and raising it to 12 feet.

[bobby.223]

The ball looks like it is being held in his bare hand during the play?

[dfwgator]

There’s a ball sitting behind the plate.

[Mariner]

"The ball looks like it is being held in his bare hand during the play?"

Watch where the catcher comes from...he leaves the ball behind. He never picked it up.

Other than that, it's a great play:)

And also a great call by the ump.

[Misterioso]

Other plates?