Quote from MrPadre19 on March 12, 2021, 3:30 pm

Did you see where Trevor Bauer hit a batter with one eye closed?

I think every time he comes up to hit the opposing pitcher should point to their eyes and close them both.....then unleash a 95 mph heater “somewhere” in the vicinity of the plate.

I mean.....it’s Ok for him to F round with a hitters safety right?

He maybe should have thought about being in the NL without a DH before playing these high school games.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2021, 4:44 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 12, 2021, 1:54 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2021, 12:19 pm

100% behind the electronic strike zone ... agree getting it “right” is the objective. Puts the pitchers and hitters up against each other without the third wheel umpire that varies his calls and makes them part of the game. That consistency should help most of the pitchers and hitters ... with a few exceptions that get the benefit of “wide strike zones”.

Personally, will “love” eliminating the on-going second guessing the call (complete with fake outrage) by almost every radio / tv broadcaster. Maybe they will need to get their act upgraded with more interesting commentary. Gotten to the point that every close pitch is in question ... not going to change anything but just the repetition cuts into the entertainment value.

Probably the most value comes for the betting aspect ... the gamblers will not get games lost by a bad umpire call. MLB (as with all sports) want to make a product reliable for betting purposes ... get more fans involved ... make more money.

You all on here that bag on the ability of the home plate umpire are going to lose your s#@* when you see what can get called with an automatic strike zone. What happens when a 12-6 curve ball clips the front knee and then bounces on the plate, and is called a strike because it clipped the front edge of the zone.

Yes, they do need to get rid of some long time umpires that are not to the quality of the newer guys and dont make the changes to "thier" zone that MLB asks for; however, most of the guys on the field are really top notch when it comes to calling balls and strikes.

Be careful in what you wish for!!

 

Well I am of the opinion that there are no better umpires and the current ones can’t get better ... so the current system will just continue to generate inconsistent calls. That is a bad thing.

IF the strike zone is consistent ... both pitchers and hitters will adapt (or perish).

We have seen the 3 dimensional (ESPN I think) graphic and the fans can clearly see “strikes” with the top of the ball scraping the bottom of the zone then dipping away. By rule .. that is a strike and should be called a strike. Why penalize the pitcher for throwing a strike because it does not look good to a fan?

IF MLB ...with the new technology ... does not like that old definition of a strike they can change the criteria and implement it immediately across the board with a couple of computer key stokes and everyone is treated equally and fairly.

Don’t like the high or low limit to the strike zone ... easy to change for everyone. Don’t like the inside or outside dimensions ... easy to change for everyone.

Want more offense .. lower the upper limit and raise the lower limit and / or require the pitch to cut the middle of the plate as a strike (as opposed to the front edge). A ton of potential tweaks to create consistency while achieving the offensive / pitching balance ... would take a few years.

Quote from MrPadre19 on March 12, 2021, 8:29 pm

Quote from BoosterSD on March 12, 2021, 1:54 pm

Quote from fenn68 on March 12, 2021, 12:19 pm

100% behind the electronic strike zone ... agree getting it “right” is the objective. Puts the pitchers and hitters up against each other without the third wheel umpire that varies his calls and makes them part of the game. That consistency should help most of the pitchers and hitters ... with a few exceptions that get the benefit of “wide strike zones”.

Personally, will “love” eliminating the on-going second guessing the call (complete with fake outrage) by almost every radio / tv broadcaster. Maybe they will need to get their act upgraded with more interesting commentary. Gotten to the point that every close pitch is in question ... not going to change anything but just the repetition cuts into the entertainment value.

Probably the most value comes for the betting aspect ... the gamblers will not get games lost by a bad umpire call. MLB (as with all sports) want to make a product reliable for betting purposes ... get more fans involved ... make more money.

You all on here that bag on the ability of the home plate umpire are going to lose your s#@* when you see what can get called with an automatic strike zone. What happens when a 12-6 curve ball clips the front knee and then bounces on the plate, and is called a strike because it clipped the front edge of the zone.

Yes, they do need to get rid of some long time umpires that are not to the quality of the newer guys and dont make the changes to "thier" zone that MLB asks for; however, most of the guys on the field are really top notch when it comes to calling balls and strikes.

Be careful in what you wish for!!

 

I am obviously for an electronic strike zone “that works”.

Not one just to have one that makes matters worse.

Guess that’s why they are starting out in one Single A league first.

 

Quote from fenn68 on March 13, 2021, 6:53 am

From a technology standpoint should be no problem ... it has been developed and deployed (at least on one network) and it is consistent with the technology used in tennis (did a major tournament recently with no human lines persons) and in the EPL for goals. 3 dimensional and the ability to rotate views ... quickly ... will get the call "right" to the rule as programmed.

Now two issues that may be the rationale for a low A introduction (only on league I think):

1. Setting up the right network of cameras is expensive ... so a limited rollout is prudent while MLB evaluates how the correctly called strike zone impacts the game using the current rule book definition of the strike zone.
2. Beyond the desire for a correct call ... MLB does not want to reduce offense. No idea if a correctly called strike zone will benefit the pitchers, hitters, or be neutral. Need time to evaluate that by using the lower level players as lab rats.

Using 2021 to evaluate the impact gives time to alter the definition of a strike (if needed) before rolling out the new definition and deploying a vast network of cameras in all venues. Doubt they want to deploy this technology in MLB until they know the impact ... so probably 2022 it expands in the minors first (AAA would make sense) then a later rollout to MLB.

Quote from Brian Connelly on March 16, 2021, 8:01 am

Logan Allen giving Cal Quantrill serious run for the money for 5th SP in Cleveland...

Buddy Reed showing up in A's camp especially defensively, still in camp after multiple guys on 40-man were optioned down...

Quote from Brian Connelly on March 21, 2021, 9:34 am

In Milwaukee:  Eric Lauer optioned to AAA after terrible ST.  Luis Urias may be headed down to, but his is more injury (hamstring) related

Quote from LynchMob on March 22, 2021, 1:40 pm

Kirby Yates Toronto Blue Jays

Out for an extended time frame with a flexor pronator strain.

Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2021, 6:38 am

Quote from LynchMob on March 22, 2021, 1:40 pm

Kirby Yates Toronto Blue Jays

Out for an extended time frame with a flexor pronator strain.

Make that TJ surgery.

I guess the Padres knew more than we did ... apparently his elbow was an issue over the winter ... an potential agreement with Atlanta ($9MM) was voided by Atlanta after medical review then TOR signs him for less (while knowing the ATL move). TOR gambles ... TOR loses.

At his age, missing 2021 and most of 2022, coming back effectively will be a real challenge for Yates.

Quote from Brian Connelly on March 24, 2021, 6:46 am

Quote from fenn68 on March 24, 2021, 6:38 am

Quote from LynchMob on March 22, 2021, 1:40 pm

Kirby Yates Toronto Blue Jays

Out for an extended time frame with a flexor pronator strain.

Make that TJ surgery.

I guess the Padres knew more than we did ... apparently his elbow was an issue over the winter ... an potential agreement with Atlanta ($9MM) was voided by Atlanta after medical review then TOR signs him for less (while knowing the ATL move). TOR gambles ... TOR loses.

At his age, missing 2021 and most of 2022, coming back effectively will be a real challenge for Yates.

I HATE this for Kirby.  Such a good dude & utterly dominant when healthy.  But selfishly that would have been a disaster if we re-signed his 1 salary (as I pounded the table for) vs Melancon & Kela's 2.