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It is time for Major League Baseball umpires to stop calling balls and strikes
Business Insider ^ | September 6, 2015 | Cork Gaines

Posted on 09/06/2015 2:36:32 PM PDT by 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.

(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: ballsandstrikes; baseball; mlb; umpires
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To: EveningStar
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.


41 posted on 09/06/2015 3:46:09 PM PDT by righttackle44 (Take scalps. Leave the bodies as a warning.)
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To: EveningStar

Don’t let Tom Brady near the cameras.


42 posted on 09/06/2015 3:46:16 PM PDT by stocksthatgoup (Turning the Party over to the so-called moderates wouldnÂ’t make any sense at all." -- Pres. Reagan)
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To: Mariner

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


43 posted on 09/06/2015 3:47:17 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: dfwgator

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


44 posted on 09/06/2015 3:47:53 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: Dilbert San Diego

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


45 posted on 09/06/2015 3:53:09 PM PDT by Calvin Locke
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To: Fungi
"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.

46 posted on 09/06/2015 3:53:57 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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To: Dr. Bogus Pachysandra
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.

47 posted on 09/06/2015 3:54:12 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: Mariner

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.


48 posted on 09/06/2015 3:57:35 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: EveningStar

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.


49 posted on 09/06/2015 3:58:01 PM PDT by discostu (dream big and dance a lot)
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To: pleasenotcalifornia
You can always trust the Iranian ballplayers.

You read my mind.


50 posted on 09/06/2015 3:59:42 PM PDT by 867V309 (Trump: Bull in a RINO Shoppe)
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To: Fungi

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

Most balks are called from the corners.


51 posted on 09/06/2015 4:04:41 PM PDT by Vermont Lt
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To: EveningStar

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


52 posted on 09/06/2015 4:06:55 PM PDT by buffaloguy
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To: EveningStar

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


53 posted on 09/06/2015 4:09:59 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom)
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To: nascarnation

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?


54 posted on 09/06/2015 4:15:32 PM PDT by Jack023
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To: EveningStar
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.

55 posted on 09/06/2015 4:16:09 PM PDT by Hebrews 11:6 (Do you REALLY believe that (1) God IS, and (2) God IS GOOD?)
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To: Dilbert San Diego
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.

56 posted on 09/06/2015 4:22:35 PM PDT by GeorgiaDawg32 (www.greenhornshooting.com - Professional handgun training.)
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To: Mariner

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


57 posted on 09/06/2015 4:22:36 PM PDT by bobby.223 (Retired up in the snowy mountains of the American Redoubt and it's a great life!)
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To: bobby.223

There’s a ball sitting behind the plate.


58 posted on 09/06/2015 4:24:37 PM PDT by dfwgator
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To: bobby.223
"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.

59 posted on 09/06/2015 4:33:00 PM PDT by Mariner (War Criminal #18 - Be The Leaderless Resistance)
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To: Fungi

Other plates?


60 posted on 09/06/2015 4:35:36 PM PDT by Misterioso (Altruism is a sin.)
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