Is it time for baseball to adopt robot umpires?
hardware.slashdot.org
hardware.slashdot.org
But really, I think we give umps an apple watch or something that buzzes whenever the ball is a strike. That data could be available very near real time. And then, once the umps get real time feedback, you never tell anyone you're doing it. The umpires association would be down for keeping it under wraps, as it keeps the robots away, the old school "human element" folks would be happy, and the calls would get better!
Its absolutely amazing to me that this tracking data is just being displayed for everyone except the umpires. Apparently just to troll us with how bad they are.
I think pretending it's just the umpires is just sad and won't work out because everyone will know. We will notice that they are no longer making so many horrible calls.
Honestly if the MLB doesn't get robot umpires going for the strikezone within the next few years, I may start watching Wiffleball exclusively instead. Much more modern game. An average group of kids who know that plastic and PVC pipe exists are able to have a fun, safe and fair time.
It's like most people are trapped in the 19th century.
Not only that, but human error is part of the game. You’re playing against both your opponent and the umps. E.g. catchers trying to fake out the umps by snapping their mitts into the strike zone when a pitch falls outside it.