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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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13

Time to Ditch Umps? (Or at Least Some of Them)

Machines might be able to do this job better

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(Newser) – Joe Mauer smashed a ball to left field in the 11th inning Friday, and it landed fair, a foot inside the line. But it won’t show up on any box score, because umpire Phil Cuzzi, standing just 10 feet away, ruled it foul. It’s just one of several blown calls in this postseason, and as the errors pile up, some are wondering: Do we really need umpires—or could a machine do the job better?

Umpires are good at calling balls and strikes, for example, getting about 95% of calls correct, by the MLB’s reckoning. But the Pitch-f/x zone digital camera-based system is close to 100% accurate, Jonah Keri notes in the Wall Street Journal. “If you could do everything right by technology, it would be the right thing to do,” opines Earl Weaver. Maybe not everything—Bud Selig, among others, believes the human element is important—but surely the need for four umpires in every game is obsolete, Keri argues, especially given they make up to $350,000 a year.

Kevin Youkilis tags Howie Kendrick after taking the wide throw at first during the fourth inning in Game 1 of the ALDS Thursday. Umpire CB Bucknor called Kendrick safe.
Kevin Youkilis tags Howie Kendrick after taking the wide throw at first during the fourth inning in Game 1 of the ALDS Thursday. Umpire CB Bucknor called Kendrick safe.   (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Umpire Phil Cuzzi watches a ball land fair; moments later, he inexplicably ruled it foul.
Umpire Phil Cuzzi watches a ball land fair; moments later, he inexplicably ruled it foul.   (Getty Images)
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, right, argues with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after he was tossed out of the game for arguing balls and strikes, July 31, 2007.
Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen, right, argues with home plate umpire Phil Cuzzi after he was tossed out of the game for arguing balls and strikes, July 31, 2007.   (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)
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We're not used to playing that far down the line. The instant the ball is hit, we usually start running. I think I may
have been looking too closely at it. - Phil Cuzzi on why he missed the call in Friday's Yankees-Twins playoff game

Do we want the tradition of 18 people on the field doing their best, officiated by four trained gentlemen also doing their best? Or do we want to translate over to some sort of video endeavor? - Mike Port, vice president of
umpiring for MLB

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
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13 comments
VIEWING:
 
pwnage
Oct 13, 09 12:44 PM CDT
Yeah, I like baseball. But when it comes right down to it, it's only entertainment. The umps do make it more entertaining. Sucks about that Youk call, though! Reply
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Unaffiliated
Oct 13, 09 1:05 PM CDT
How would this robotic umpire system work? A machine operator sits up in a booth and sticks a thumbs up or a thumbs down out the window based on what the machine says? Reply
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IN RESPONSE:
Christian
Oct 13, 09 1:16 PM CDT
Balls and strikes should definitely be computerized. I've seen way more frustrating 3rd strikes called this season than major in-play calls blown like the ones highlighted here. And it would be really easy to implement - just give the ump and ear piece that tells them what's a ball and what's a strike. Hell, TBS was already doing it during the ALCS coverage.
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IN RESPONSE:
Unaffiliated
Oct 13, 09 1:44 PM CDT
If you're going relieve the ump of his responsibility of calling balls and strikes, why should he stand behind the catcher anymore? That's a dangerous place to be if you're not there for any other reason.
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IN RESPONSE:
Christian
Oct 14, 09 8:01 AM CDT
I should have been more clear. I meant "just give AN ump and ear piece that tells them what's a ball and what's a strike." It doesn't necessarily have to be behind the plate (could easily be the 1st base ump), although the visual of having an umpire behind the plate might be missed.
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