Baseball is going to robo umps, because it can’t fire Ángel Hernández…

[CockofEarle]

Ángel Hernández

Angel Hernandez "basically guessed" in confusing call in Royals game

And he’s behind the plate tonight.

www.royalsreview.com

Searching for a defense of Angel Hernandez

Does anyone like Angel Hernandez's umpiring? An investigation into the obvious.

www.sbnation.com

Angel Hernandez, Robots, & How to Fix MLB Umpiring Forever

Another poor Angel Hernandez performance on April 24 highlighted baseball's umpiring problem yet again. Check out Boardroom's solutions for fixing it.

boardroom.tv

 

[18IsTheMan]

just got ahead and add robot players.

better yet, but make all games computer simulations. could have a 162 game season in a matter of hours.

this generation is so soft. bad call? tough. life is full of bad calls. be a man.

 

[ToddFlanders]

The technology is there. It's seamless, instant and always right. Robots need to be calling balls and strikes for sure. The human umps will always be necessary to move the game along, but the umps should not be part of the game (as in, the umps and their personal abilities should not be affecting the games). The umps should be like the foul lines - very important for playing a game, but not ever changing the outcome.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Be a man and overcome. Lord, people are so whiny and flimsy. Next they'll have to install low-stimulation safe spaces for players to recover from a bad call.

 

[Prestonite]

Players can adjust to the umps strike zone during the game (part of the game and separates pros from amateurs) but that's not the case with technical rule screw ups. Umps who consistently make mistakes regarding rules should not be employed.

 

[ToddFlanders]

Be a man and overcome. Lord, people are so whiny and flimsy. Next they'll have to install low-stimulation safe spaces for players to recover from a bad call.

But why put up with bad calls when the solution is easy and not just readily accessible, but is actually in place and already being used for broadcasts? There are zero barriers to entry. The game would end up better as well. A more predictable strike zone is better for offense (something every league wants). More predictable officiating also improves the fan experience.

 

[Prestonite]

But why put up with bad calls when the solution is easy and not just readily accessible, but is actually in place and already being used for broadcasts? There are zero barriers to entry. The game would end up better as well. A more predictable strike zone is better for offense (something every league wants). More predictable officiating also improves the fan experience.

No fun yelling at robots - ruins that part of the fan experience.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I just don't want some sterile, automated game. Bad calls have been a part of the game since it's inception. Sure, it might impact the game on a micro-scale, but bad calls haven't kept any deserving player out of the Hall of Fame. Bad calls haven't altered the game by crowning an undeserving champions or robbing anyone of a World Series title. Who cares then if Joe Shmo is rung up on a bad called 3rd strike in a game in mid-April? It's not going to change anything in the big picture about the outcome of the game.

 

[Carolina Steve]

Simple.. Grade the umpires using the technology each week. If you score below x% correct, you cease to be a mlb ump. Hernandez is a joke. Ray Charles could have called as good a game.

 

[ToddFlanders]

I just don't want some sterile, automated game. Bad calls have been a part of the game since it's inception. Sure, it might impact the game on a micro-scale, but bad calls haven't kept any deserving player out of the Hall of Fame. Bad calls haven't altered the game by crowning an undeserving champions or robbing anyone of a World Series title. Who cares then if Joe Shmo is rung up on a bad called 3rd strike in a game in mid-April? It's not going to change anything in the big picture about the outcome of the game.

I agree with this for the most part. And if the technology wasn't already in place (and used for every pitch of every broadcast), then I wouldn't be looking to create the technology. Bad calls are not a game-killer as you pointed out. But since it's there - I say use it. Umps have been a "part of the game" because there was no other option for the first century of baseball - they were a necessary evil. Now they aren't necessary, why put up with the evil?

 

[KingWard]

The human dynamic should remain. People play the games and humans ought to officiate the games. If any are patently incompetent, terminate their employment, but let the game -all our games - be decided in every aspect by human performance.

 

[CockofEarle]

just got ahead and add robot players.

better yet, but make all games computer simulations. could have a 162 game season in a matter of hours.

this generation is so soft. bad call? tough. life is full of bad calls. be a man

Hernandez is an embarrassment to the game…….the union is the only reason he’s still there.

​

 

[Surfincock]

Hernandez is an embarrassment to the game…….the union is the only reason he’s still there.

​

Unions are not in place to seek perfection or improve a product. They have some great apprentice programs which I do like (in my field) but they will never get rid of Hernandez. Even with the pressure to use robots is there, they will hold their position to their own detriment. I see it in my line of work all the time.