Do You Support A Technology-Assisted Strike Zone?

[DrungoHazewood]

So I didn't really bring this thread back to talk digital sampling theory. But rather to talk about Sam Miller's recent piece on BP. He suggests fixing the problem not through technology, but through a simple rules change:

Here's how the rulebook should define a strike:

A ball, delivered by the pitcher while standing wholly within the lines of his position and facing the batsman, that, so delivered, is determined by the umpire to be a fair pitch.

That's it. Basically, there's no more arguing about balls and strikes. If the umpire decides that a ball is a fair pitch that could reasonably be hit by the batter it's a strike. No need for technology, no need for framing or Pitch F/x or Questec. Sure, you could have those things and you could use Pitch F/x to show us what a strike typically is. But a strike is a strike if the ump says so.

And really, isn't that getting to the heart of the "human elemant" argument. Why even have a rulebook that tries to define this 3D box that humans have no chance of accurately judging a 95mph pitch going through? Instead, just tell the ump to eyeball what he thinks a batter should offer at and call it a day.

[El Gordo]

I think this whole umpire problem is testosterone driven, Not wanting to be shown up, not wanting to admit error etc. The simple solution would be female umpires. No one would argue, unless they didn't mind looking like a jerk, and the umps would take all the technical assistance they could get, no complaints. Anything to make the group work together better. Only problem would be that some of the umps might be so pleasing to look at that the game could become about them. Might have to make them wear burka's. :laughlol:

[john316]

Looks like some of the electronic ball/strike home plates are going to be manufactured right here in good ole Maryland. I hope it does well as Hancock MD area has been hit hard with jobs leaving and this would be a big boost for the area.

http://www.herald-mail.com/news/hm-eagle-eye-electronic-home-plate-nearly-ready-to-take-the-field-20130510,0,1615712.story

[Art Wing]

Gibson is pretty bad tonight so far. He's giving Scherzer about 3-4 inches on that down and away fastball. The injustice!