Yeah so this is a gripe that may not get much in the way of traction, but I just gotta' say it.

Part of the fun of watching baseball on TV with friends was always the arguments of what was a strike and what wasn't. It was part of the mystique of watching the game. Was the ump a blind bum? It depended on how they called the strikes on your team. I realize that this veers quickly into Olde Farte territory, but showing the strike zone and exactly where the pitch hits takes some of the magic out of watching for me.

Basically, it's unnecessary. I know it doesn't affect the play of the game on a pitch by pitch basis, but I'd rather watch the throws the way the players see it on the field or fans at the park.

Grumble grumble...technology...grumble...

I used to have the same gripe about the FoxTrax glowing hockey puck for hockey games. But as a total non-fan of baseball, it's nice to see the strike zone when I'm forced to watch it with a fan.

The commentators are annoying. I can live with that computer generated strike box, I have visual impairments, just like the umpires.

I'm more impressed by the accuracy percentage the umps are.

I have mixed feelings about it. I'm an old school old fart that doesn't even like the DH rule. But one of the good parts about the strike box is seeing just how accurately those guys can throw a 98mph pitch and how far out of the strike zone some of those pitches are swung at.

I like it. It wish the umpires could see it.

I love baseball and I love the strike box and the soon to be appearing automated ball/strike calls. Next year the Atlantic league will be using the technology. Too many bad ball/strike calls have been made affecting the outcomes of at-bats. The worst I ever saw was when Livan Hernandez was a rookie. He had a half mile wide strike zone. It was terrible.

quote:

Originally posted by GaryBF:
I like it. It wish the umpires could see it.

Me, too. I'm tired of the subjectivity of the strike zone.

quote:

Originally posted by PowerSurge:
I love baseball and I love the strike box and the soon to be appearing automated ball/strike calls. Next year the Atlantic league will be using the technology. Too many bad ball/strike calls have been made affecting the outcomes of at-bats. The worst I ever saw was when Livan Hernandez was a rookie. He had a half mile wide strike zone. It was terrible.

The infamous Eric Gregg game. That was ridiculous.

I believe they stopped doing the NL only and AL only umpires in an attempt to standardize the strike zone. I mean, the plate is the same for all players, right?

Problem is, the umps can't see it, so it doesn't affect the game. I was watching a game when I typed it, and I watched the ump call a strike that was just high outside the "official" box and a ball that clipped the inside corner of that same CG guide.

Ump can't see the box, and has probably .1 to .05 seconds to figure that last bit of a pitch that's actually crossing the plate. 100% isn't going to happen, and I haven't heard any indication of a "strike call review" coming up in the game, so it's still subjective.

Haven't seen it. Does the box move up and down with the different size of batter ?

quote:

Originally posted by Otto Pilot:
Problem is, the umps can't see it, so it doesn't affect the game. I was watching a game when I typed it, and I watched the ump call a strike that was just high outside the "official" box and a ball that clipped the inside corner of that same CG guide.

Ump can't see the box, and has probably .1 to .05 seconds to figure that last bit of a pitch that's actually crossing the plate. 100% isn't going to happen, and I haven't heard any indication of a "strike call review" coming up in the game, so it's still subjective.

Ball/strike isn't reviewable, but you can bet your ass the umps are graded on it, which I think is great.
It's not going anywhere. statistical analysis is the new goober-headed craze in baseball. You gotta know who is 0.001% ahead in xwOBA so you *know* what is going to happen next right?

Put me in the "NO" category. I find it distracting. I've always considered a part of baseball's mystique to be the need for a batter/pitcher to understand how the ump is grading the pitches and adapt. He keeps calling that pitch a strike? Better protect that part of the plate.

Baseball has a storied tradition. Tread lightly when changing anything.

If you really wanted to upset the apple cart, adopt NPB (Nippon Professional Baseball) rules and put a time limit on the game, along with the acceptance of tie games. I'd loose my mind if that ever happens.

quote:

Originally posted by snidera:

Ball/strike isn't reviewable, but you can bet your ass the umps are graded on it, which I think is great.
It's not going anywhere. statistical analysis is the new goober-headed craze in baseball. You gotta know who is 0.001% ahead in xwOBA so you *know* what is going to happen next right?

Of that I have absolutely no doubt.

I read an interesting article that looked at how statistical analysis has killed (or is killing) the midrange jump shot in basketball. After a bazillion shots were crunched and analyzed, the stats geeks realized the percentage completion of 3-pointers was almost the same as the mid to long range 2-point shot. In consequence the majority of shots these days are from outside the 3-point line or just around the basket.

Not a fan.....and calling pitches ain't easy, I earned pretty good money ump'ing in my youth and it's hard...especially with a picture who could throw good junk.

I don't watch Tv at home but I saw a game on yesterday at someone's house and wondered about it. First thought was "Are they doing that for some special reason, or is this all the time?"

Second thought was "Why is the strike zone only slightly above his belt?"


It used to be baseball.

I've had some of my best naps during baseball games, had no clue the digital strikebox is a thing.

So how are players going to kick dirt on a digital boxes shoes, or throw your hat at them, get right up and bump guts, cuss then get tossed by a computer screen.

Although you could see a batter beating the crap out of a digital monitor and camera setup on national tv....

I still enjoy college ball—a lot. It’s been quite a few years since I watched much MLB; it just feels too...everything. Decisions based too much on stats, probabilities, tendencies. Pitching too scripted and pitching changes based on stats,...

I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed watching “The Game of the Week” growing up.

Trivia. Who used to say, “This is the pitch of decision,” referring to a 2-2 count?