It's Time For Automated Ball And Strike Calls In MLB

The Yankees got beaten fair and square, and they have nobody to blame but themselves. And the crap calls at the plate hurt both teams last night, so this isn't a partisan gripe about the inherent unfairness of MLB toward The Yankees (that's for another rant).

But the strike zone last night was pathetic, and it affected the play of both teams. When a batter has to wonder where the strike zone is, in addition to having just a split-second to decide whether to swing, it plays havoc with the essence of the game.

Whose fault is that? Well, MLB does not have sufficient controls in place to moderate the often overbearing and ridiculously sensitive behavior of its umpires, so they have the well-founded impression that they can do no wrong. As Lord Acton famously said:

Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

And is there a more corrupt and capricious and arrogant group than MLB umpires? Is there another sport into which the officials inject themselves to such an extent?

And I'm not talking about the outliers on the asshole scale like Joe West and Angel Hernandez. Even the relatively good umpires have vast egos and are unwilling to tolerate any challenge to their authority, even when it is completely obvious that they have screwed up. Their prickly insistence on total obeisance from the players and managers is an affront to the game.

The frustrating thing is that the number of bad calls in the field is minuscule compared to the pathetic and subjective job the umpires do at the plate. Perhaps that is a function of the increase in velocity of the average pitch, or maybe (and I am guessing here) evolutionary changes in pitches so that there is simply too much movement for the home plate umpires to judge them with any degree of accuracy.

It's simple...let the software call balls and strikes, and the home plate umpire can concentrate on other things like whether the batter has swung, or been hit by a pitch, or fouled off a pitch, etc. Or, and this is my preferred solution, publicize the accuracy statistics that MLB keeps on their umps, and have the software call balls and strikes for the bottom half of the umpires for the month following their low ratings. And if they remain in the cellar for the month after, suspend them.

Below the fold are some videos that should bolster the point that something has to be done. Let's start with forcing Joe West to lose about 100 pounds!

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Posted by: CBD at 03:05 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Meh. They can all go set themselves on fire.

Posted by: Insomniac at October 20, 2019 03:07 PM (ywNoU)

2 I do recall the moving strike zone bit Cliff Lee in the ass during the playoffs with the Cards in 2012.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:11 PM (JaLUs)

3 Where shall we begin when its about bad officials.

Posted by: Detroit Lions at October 20, 2019 03:12 PM (9YABs)

4 There's also the real possibility the umps are having vision issues as they age.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:14 PM (JaLUs)

5 To me the Yankees are in baseball what the Cowboys are in football.
Hate them both

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:14 PM (ZCEU2)

6 How did the Yankees do last night?

Posted by: Caliban at October 20, 2019 03:15 PM (QE8X6)

7 The Umpire strikes back..........................WGAF.

Posted by: saf at October 20, 2019 03:15 PM (5IHGB)

8 Let's start with firing Joe West into the Sun

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 03:15 PM (BqBId)

9 100 comment rule.

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 03:16 PM (BqBId)

10 When I first saw the strike zone box on MLB Gameday, I wondered why they couldn't implement that IRL. I guess the Umpire's Union will not allow it.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:18 PM (JaLUs)

11 Right. What MLB needs more of is technology.

Maybe the umps need to take the same steroids guys like Lemahue are taking.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:18 PM (hku12)

12 Every umpire has his own strike zone on a given day. The first thing you do as a pitcher is figure what it is.

Some umpires call the pitch where it crosses the plate, as they're supposed to. Some call it by where the pitch starts out, i.e., they call it too soon. Others call it by where the catcher catches, i.e., they call it too late.

As a pitcher you can work with any of those. The guys who are really tough require the pitch to be a strike out of your hand AND all the way to the catcher's mitt, i.e., grooved. On those days you spend a lot of time backing up third base.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 20, 2019 03:19 PM (YqDXo)

13 Sorry for the short fuze O/T

Former Baltimore Mayor, Tommy Delasandro has died.

Who dat?

Nancy Pelosi's father.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled basabowl thread.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 20, 2019 03:20 PM (cqNba)

14 5 Skip, IIANM a lot of Philly fans want Gerardi. I know I do.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:20 PM (JaLUs)

15 When I first saw the strike zone box on MLB Gameday, I wondered why they couldn't implement that IRL. I guess the Umpire's Union will not allow it.

Do we really want AI and machine vision to replace umpires and referees? The 'bots will catch everything they are programmed and trained to pick-up but would the game itself suffer from the wooden rigidness rather than the human nature inherent in our inability?

Posted by: Blue Bird of F'ing Joy at October 20, 2019 03:20 PM (lD3vL)

16 How did the Yankees do last night?

Ummmmm......I dunno/

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:21 PM (arJlL)

17 Skip, IIANM a lot of Philly fans want Gerardi. I know I do.
Posted by: kallisto

Girardi's a good manager.

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:23 PM (arJlL)

18 Every umpire has his own strike zone on a given day. The first thing you do as a pitcher is figure what it is.

Some umpires call the pitch where it crosses the plate, as they're supposed to. Some call it by where the pitch starts out, i.e., they call it too soon. Others call it by where the catcher catches, i.e., they call it too late.

As a pitcher you can work with any of those. The guys who are really tough require the pitch to be a strike out of your hand AND all the way to the catcher's mitt, i.e., grooved. On those days you spend a lot of time backing up third base.
Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 20, 2019 03:19 PM (YqDXo)

You know what else is a skill? Being a hitter who can "work" an umpire. Some guys get walked more, not just because they have a better eye than others, but because they know HOW to question the ump's call.

Is that fair?

Hell no, but it sure as hell beats the sterile game that would result if calls were made by lasers and robots.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:23 PM (hku12)

19

Why not just have Robits play the game, then?

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at October 20, 2019 03:23 PM (oelf+)

20 How did the Yankees do last night?

What exactly is the internet for ?

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:24 PM (ZCEU2)

21
The older I get, the more I wonder how adults can root for jerseys.

Professional group sports are GARBAGE.

Posted by: Soothsayer, very senile at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (oelf+)

22 Do we really want AI and machine vision to replace umpires and referees? The 'bots will catch everything they are programmed and trained to pick-up but would the game itself suffer from the wooden rigidness rather than the human nature inherent in our inability?
Posted by: Blue Bird of F'ing Joy at October 20, 2019 03:20 PM (lD3vL)

Might as well take the humans out altogether. Just have robots play, ump, and call the games on tv. Imagine no more Joe Buck in the booth.

What a wonderful world that would be.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (hku12)

23 Speaking of World Series, part of the world's current karmic imbalance can be attributed to a certain obligation, voluntarily undertaken last year, to wear a Red Sox T-Shirt while in public, for a week, should the Red Sox, and not the Yankees, win the World Series.

History records that the Red Sox won the WS. What history does not record is said obligation holder honoring that sacred obligation.

Given that a butterfly beating its wings in the Amazon can induce stock market swings and/or moral turpitude in Olangapo, who can say what dire circumstances today are a result of this?

Posted by: Comrade Duncanthraxbot at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (DMUuz)

24 We can't spell words without having the computer look over our shoulder, and we usually screw up the programming of that. Takes two back-up committees to do the calls for a football game. I don't think anyone is in charge of basketball. And NASCAR has special overnight meetings to try to copy the rest of them.

We've made ourselves an Idiocracy, and have no damn business making fun of foreigners or the next generation. If we can't do balls and strikes without starting a damn riot every time out, let's just hang it up and concentrate on our extra-absorbent undies. Jesus, are we ever a bunch of screw-ups.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (8ZmvG)

25 Good refs/umps are critical to being able to enjoy pro-sports. Mostly you shouldn't even notice they are there. When NFL refs were at the top of their game about a decade ago, they would call things that a replay would confirm. When replay shows refs or umps wrong (or worse when you can see they are wrong as the viewer) on a regular basis, it gets frustrating really fast.

Posted by: MKopef at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (DfSI5)

26 OOPS.

Nancy Pelosi's Brother, not father.

Both were Mayors here.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 20, 2019 03:26 PM (cqNba)

27 This has always bothered me since my dear departed Uncle - MLB pitcher (Athletics, Yankees, Sox (Red and White!) pointed it out years ago. A MLB umpire is the only sports official that is required to stand in such a position that he cannot fully see the placement of the pitch and then must call a ball or strike.

The umps in the field can see the strike zone more clearly but they will very rarely override the plate ump.

Something needs to be done.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 20, 2019 03:26 PM (Y4EXg)

28 What exactly is the internet for ?

Girly Pictures ?

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:26 PM (arJlL)

29 How did the Yankees do last night?
Posted by: Caliban at October 20, 2019 03:15 PM (QE8X6)

What I'm wondering is whether Aroldis Chapman's girlfriend/wife has a shiner this morning.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:26 PM (hku12)

30 15 oh there's enough quirkiness about baseball, I don't think clinical precision in calling pitches will hurt the overall zeitgeist of the game.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:27 PM (JaLUs)

31 >>> What exactly is the internet for ?

The internet is for porn.

Posted by: fluffy at October 20, 2019 03:27 PM (dCRRg)

32 What exactly is the internet for ?

Girly ~~Pictures~~ movies?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at October 20, 2019 03:27 PM (cqNba)

33 What exactly is the internet for ?

The internet is for porn.
Posted by: fluffy

----

This is known.

Posted by: Tonypete at October 20, 2019 03:28 PM (Y4EXg)

34 When the idiot spit on the ump years back, and the umps didn't immediately sit out until the cretin was banned for life, it told anyone with a brain all they needed to know about the umps, the players, and the game [and a bit about the culture].

But sportsball.

Neighbor was a major leaguer when I was a teenager, cut his lawn/did yard work for him. He gave me one of his gloves, and a ball signed by the whole team. Very nice guy, and family. I'll just keep that as my memory of baseball.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:28 PM (QDnY+)

35 The 2d box on the video isn't a good way to tell where the 3d ball is.

Posted by: Wodun at October 20, 2019 03:28 PM (OkKDg)

36 30 15 oh there's enough quirkiness about baseball, I don't think clinical precision in calling pitches will hurt the overall zeitgeist of the game.
Posted by: kallisto

(trudges back to 15.In the rain)

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:28 PM (arJlL)

37 Joe West has been not just bad but an arrogant douche who thinks he is the most important part of the game for years yet he still has a job.

It's a mystery.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2019 03:29 PM (ZLI7S)

38 Hitter can't hit after 40, why do we expect Umps to be any better.

Posted by: Jean at October 20, 2019 03:29 PM (B7KlG)

39 As infuriating as bad calls are, I hope they never go to an automated strike call.
That's just wrong.

Posted by: JoeF. at October 20, 2019 03:29 PM (NFEMn)

40 It is Nancy's bro that just died VIA. Both dad and bro were big in Maryland politics but Tom Sr would have been ancient, he was born in 1903 according to wiki.

Posted by: PaleRider is simply irredeemable at October 20, 2019 03:29 PM (n4y+3)

41 Confucius say Umpire Wrong, Man with 4 balls cannot walk

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 03:30 PM (BqBId)

42 We can't spell words without having the computer look over our shoulder, and we usually screw up the programming of that. Takes two back-up committees to do the calls for a football game. I don't think anyone is in charge of basketball. And NASCAR has special overnight meetings to try to copy the rest of them.

We've made ourselves an Idiocracy, and have no damn business making fun of foreigners or the next generation. If we can't do balls and strikes without starting a damn riot every time out, let's just hang it up and concentrate on our extra-absorbent undies. Jesus, are we ever a bunch of screw-ups.

Posted by: Stringer Davis at October 20, 2019 03:25 PM (8ZmvG)

You know, it's sometimes very hard to understand what you are trying to say.

So here, lemme lay this in there...

You know what used to be quite common more than a 100 years ago in professional baseball? Umpires being assaulted and run out of town for making bad calls.

It's true!

This modern game is nothing compared to how bad it used to be.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:30 PM (hku12)

43 AL umpires have been notoriously bad for a long time.

Posted by: Captain Obvious at October 20, 2019 03:30 PM (iB1oa)

44 Joe West has been not just bad but an arrogant douche who thinks he is the most important part of the game for years yet he still has a job.

It's a mystery.
Posted by: JackStraw

A mystery. Wrapped in a riddle.

Inside an enema.

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:30 PM (arJlL)

45 Imagine no more Joe Buck in the booth.

Over a decade ago, there was an AI application that was able to read the various sports data streams and generate Turing complete sports articles - that is, the output was indistinguishable from professionally written sports articles.

A decade later, surely with Google Assistant technology and good automated speech, Joe Buck, et al could be replaced.

I could even see individual mobile devices that have apps that have been trained to know each user's preferences able to dynamically tailor the play-by-play for each customer's satisfaction.

Heck, might even include product placement and segues into the stream so that games can be run without advertisement breaks.

Speed the heck out of the game and maintain continuity and personalized advertisements (for those who don't have paid subscriptions).

Posted by: Blue Bird of F'ing Joy at October 20, 2019 03:31 PM (lD3vL)

46 there is no AL & NL Umps anymore

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 03:31 PM (BqBId)

47 >>AL umpires have been notoriously bad for a long time.

True, but this is about baseball refs.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2019 03:31 PM (ZLI7S)

48 Gwynn had his own strike zone, right? But he earned that by being one of the best, and hardest-working, hitters in history. Probably not applicable to the masses of hitters.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:31 PM (QDnY+)

49 Why not just tie an ump's pay to the quality of his calls, with demonstrably wrong ones resulting in subtraction of some amount from his check?

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at October 20, 2019 03:32 PM (H5knJ)

50 Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely

And thank God!

Posted by: Hillary! at October 20, 2019 03:33 PM (IPZPl)

51 If you automate it, they will come.

Posted by: Mr. Scott (Formerly GWS) at October 20, 2019 03:33 PM (JUOKG)

52 I think I lost interest in baseball about the same time they started with the radar gun to measure the exact mph of the pitch. I think a lot is lost when electronic technology becomes the supreme analysis of a game of sport. If you want to much preciseness just play video games. Exact preciseness is for internal surgery and NASA rockets.

Posted by: washrivergal at October 20, 2019 03:34 PM (sIyWR)

53 I like baseball, but am not a super huge fan like many here... mostly just watch the Rockies (when it's available, sigh).

But, I kind of like the lack of automation. I don't know... maybe I'm crazy, but it feels more real than having robots do the work.

Before I quit watching NFL, I liked instant replay, though, because it allowed refs to revise opinions on questionable plays.

Maybe MLB could try out IR/manager challenges for a season instead of Robot Overlords?

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:34 PM (5aX2M)

54 Replace Joe Buck with one of these guys....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUEqGMVv58g

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:35 PM (arJlL)

55 NAP TIME !

Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:36 PM (arJlL)

56 I knew early on that I would never go far in baseball. I was a decent fielder, especially first base, being a southpaw. But hitting was where I simply sucked. If my bat made contact with the ball, I was giddy, even though more often than not, it was a pop-up, a foul, or a dribbling grounder. If I got on base, it was mostly on walks.

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Ulster Scot at October 20, 2019 03:36 PM (x8Wzq)

57 I think I lost interest in baseball about the same time they started with the radar gun to measure the exact mph of the pitch. I think a lot is lost when electronic technology becomes the supreme analysis of a game of sport. If you want to much preciseness just play video games. Exact preciseness is for internal surgery and NASA rockets.
Posted by: washrivergal at October 20, 2019 03:34 PM (sIyWR)

Exactly. Sports are all about the human drama, of excellence... and failure.

I don't believe anything improves in sports, with more technology.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:37 PM (hku12)

58 44 Joe West has been not just bad but an arrogant douche who thinks he is the most important part of the game for years yet he still has a job.

It's a mystery.
Posted by: JackStraw

A mystery. Wrapped in a riddle.
J
Inside an enema.
Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:30 PM (arJlL)

That explains why he's so fat. He's the turducken of umpires.

Posted by: N.L. Urker. I will urk until I can't urk anymore. at October 20, 2019 03:37 PM (eAMlh)

59 I really like the idea of publicizing the percentage of missed calls. However, it may help to remember that MLB expects umps to get 95% of ball and strike calls correct. That accuracy rate is pretty good in almost any line of work.

Posted by: mongo at October 20, 2019 03:38 PM (LROYh)

60 They are testing a robot umpire out in the minor leagues. There is still an umpire behind the plate but he simply relays the calls made by the robot. It has some issues though, such as balls that bounce in the dirt then come across the plate are called strikes.

https://archive.fo/4j4vJ

Posted by: SamVonSam at October 20, 2019 03:40 PM (95KET)

61 I'm a bigger fan of MiLB than the majors. It's more fun attending the minor league games, not to mention MUCH cheaper.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:40 PM (JaLUs)

62 Bob Menery for the win.

Posted by: Infidel at October 20, 2019 03:40 PM (m+0jM)

63 >>I really like the idea of publicizing the percentage of missed calls. However, it may help to remember that MLB expects umps to get 95% of ball and strike calls correct. That accuracy rate is pretty good in almost any line of work.

It's also a pretty frigging easy job. They aren't splitting atoms out there.

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2019 03:40 PM (ZLI7S)

64 Greetings:

I grew up in the Bronx of the '50s and '60s, about a mile or so north of Yankee Stadium. When we played stickball in our local after-schoolyard, we would chalk up a strike zone on the wall and if the pitch had chalk on it, it was a strike.

P.S. Your spellcheck doesn't accept "stickball" as correctly spelled.

Posted by: 11B40 at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (evgyj)

65 Replace Joe Buck with one of these guys....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUEqGMVv58g
Posted by: JT at October 20, 2019 03:35 PM (arJlL)

No thanks, I'd rather have my teeth drilled, without anesthesia.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (hku12)

66 Yeah but if it's a machine making the calls how do you hurt the 'ump's'feelings by calling him blind?

Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (UUkQp)

67 So is the strike zone more of a cube that the ball has to remain within while it is over the plate or is it simply a rectangle that it has to be within when it crosses over come point on the plate?

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (HALdu)

68 My love for baseball got stomped when the Expos moved to Washington.
But I am happy the Nationals are in the World Series-not dancing on the dugout roof happy but happy enough in a meh sort of way.

Posted by: N.L. Urker. I will urk until I can't urk anymore. at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (eAMlh)

69 I mean it does hurt the ump's feelings being called blind, right?

Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 03:42 PM (UUkQp)

70 I would have liked to see Earl Weaver peck a robot umpire with the bill of his cap.

Posted by: N.L. Urker. I will urk until I can't urk anymore. at October 20, 2019 03:43 PM (eAMlh)

71 Falcons suck.

Posted by: Cosmic Charle at October 20, 2019 03:43 PM (PUmDY)

72 If the software is calling balls and strikes for the bottom half, how do they get out of the cellar? They have no chance to improve.

Posted by: Boone at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (qHXO8)

73 not so, the strike zone is like the G spot. some guys can find it and some can't.

Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (UUkQp)

74 So is the strike zone more of a cube that the ball has to remain within while it is over the plate or is it simply a rectangle that it has to be within when it crosses over come point on the plate?

It's not a cube but it is three dimensional (math majors, help me) but theoretically the ball doesn't have to remain in the cube all the time. It can enter and exit the strike zone anywhere (think curveballs).

Posted by: mongo at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (LROYh)

75 I'm a bigger fan of MiLB than the majors. It's more fun attending the minor league games, not to mention MUCH cheaper.
Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:40 PM (JaLUs)

There's a minor league team here, where I moved. The season was already over when we got here. Can't wait for Spring!

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (hku12)

76 Falcons suck.
Posted by: Cosmic Charle at October 20, 2019 03:43 PM (PUmDY)
-----
Just generally down on raptorial birds, eh?

Posted by: Captain Obvious at October 20, 2019 03:45 PM (iB1oa)

77 Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (HALdu)

-----

Dunno. I always thought of it as being a square at the front, relative to the batter's size/stance. That's why I also think it would be hard to automate. Too subjective.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:45 PM (5aX2M)

78 not so, the strike zone is like the G spot. some guys can find it and some can't.
Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (UUkQp)

sure, but there is always a strike zone, you never wander across a baseball game where the game does not know whether or not it has a strike zone.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:45 PM (HALdu)

79 AI calls would also cockblock any ump who'd be inclined to throw a game via bad plate calls. I think the baseball purists aren't giving the real influence of sports betting due consideration.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:45 PM (JaLUs)

80 What the heck is MiLB, some weird subset of milfs?

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:46 PM (HALdu)

81 Dunno. I always thought of it as being a square at the front, relative to the batter's size/stance. That's why I also think it would be hard to automate. Too subjective.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:45 PM (5aX2M)

Yeah you would have to adjust it for the batter. You would think this would give shorter batters an advantage.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:47 PM (HALdu)

82 I always thought the strike zone was over the plate between the shoulder and knees.

Posted by: Infidel at October 20, 2019 03:47 PM (m+0jM)

83 So they just tried a controlled explosion to bring down the cranes at the collapsed hotel in downtown New Orleans. Did not go as planned.

Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at October 20, 2019 03:47 PM (TLxpZ)

84 So is the strike zone more of a cube that the ball has to remain within while it is over the plate or is it simply a rectangle that it has to be within when it crosses over come point on the plate?
Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (HALdu)

It's supposed to be where it crosses the FRONT of the plate.

So yeah, a rectangle.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (hku12)

85 With the snowflakes in the young generation any name called will turn them into a teddy bear hugging cry baby.

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (ZCEU2)

86 So is the strike zone more of a cube that the ball has to remain within while it is over the plate or is it simply a rectangle that it has to be within when it crosses over come point on the plate?

I would imagine that there would be two or more camera angles that are consistent for each game, the machine vision system would be trained over time to identify balls and strikes by comparing pitches to declared calls. That way there would still be some human element as the top umpires would have "taught" the systems their own personal strike zone.

Posted by: Blue Bird of F'ing Joy at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (lD3vL)

87 My love for baseball got stomped when the Expos moved to Washington.

But I am happy the Nationals are in the World Series-not dancing on
the dugout roof happy but happy enough in a meh sort of way.

Posted by: N.L. Urker. I will urk until I can't urk anymore. at October 20, 2019 03:41 PM (eAMlh)

Expos got screwed by the 1994 strike.
I once went to Olympic Stadium when the place was full. I understand completely why no one wanted to go there for football or baseball.

Posted by: Vendette at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (Yeuu4)

88 What the heck is MiLB, some weird subset of milfs?
Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019

Minors.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (5aX2M)

89 So they just tried a controlled explosion to bring down the cranes at the collapsed hotel in downtown New Orleans. Did not go as planned.
Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at October 20, 2019 03:47 PM (TLxpZ)

When the controlled erection of a crane did not go as planned it is not surprising that the controlled explosion to bring down the controlled crane did not go so well either.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (HALdu)

90 We've identified the problem! The strike zone should be a triangle!! They're innately known and thus umpire's will intuitively get ball/strike calls right!!!

Posted by: Rene Descartes at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (H5knJ)

91 >>> What exactly is the internet for ?

The internet is for porn.

Posted by: fluffy at October 20, 2019 03:27 PM (dCRRg)
---------------------------------------

I dunno, that dude in Iowa watched so much porn that he thought if you saw a nice lady out in a store, with her young daughter, that all you had to do to get her motor running was to "whip it out". Because in porn that's the number one turn on for the ladies.

Which he proceeded to do. Which of course freaked her the hell out, and she called the cops, who arrested him and took him to jail, where he admitted he did it.

Posted by: Boots at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (oGBso)

92 I see Nothing Nestor has disappointed the nattering nabobs of negativity.

Look out Mexico, Priscilla is just off-shore.

Posted by: Anna Puma at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (E2dMO)

93 What the heck is MiLB, some weird subset of milfs?

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:46 PM (HALdu)

Minor league baseball.

Posted by: Vendette at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (Yeuu4)

94 Minors.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (5aX2M)

that is definitely not kosher. maybe halal

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (HALdu)

95 Soccer refs are the worse, as far as being authoritarian jerks, imho.

Posted by: danoso at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (2idx/)

96 Comment above references wrong kind of balls.

Posted by: Boots at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (oGBso)

97 Minor league baseball.
Posted by: Vendette at October 20, 2019 03:49 PM (Yeuu4)

Whew

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:50 PM (HALdu)

98 I like baseball, going to a game is a lot of fun, but haven't watched any on tv all year. Maybe if the Phillies were a real contender that would be different.

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:50 PM (ZCEU2)

99 I always thought the strike zone was over the plate between the shoulder and knees.
Posted by: Infidel at October 20, 2019 03:47 PM (m+0jM)

Yep, and NOBODY calls it that way. If you had a robot doing so, the game would get even more boring than it already is, because the strikeouts would escalate, and they're already historically higher than ever.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:50 PM (hku12)

100 It looks like they just made things waaay worse at the collapse site. Wish I had a live stream of the local coverage. I'm sure it'll be on the nat'l news soon enough.

Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at October 20, 2019 03:51 PM (TLxpZ)

101 It's supposed to be where it crosses the FRONT of the plate.

So yeah, a rectangle.
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:48 PM (hku12)

Then that should be easy enough. They do it for tennis.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:51 PM (HALdu)

102 OT your end-of-the-world update, cease-fire holding more/less, Ottomans allowing Kurd militia to evacuate Ras al Ayn, which is kind of a big deal in terms of this whole thing, and we're demilitarizing [blowing up more s**t] of ours as we quit various positions.

Likely some really awful s**t has in fact been done by all sides - it's kind of how they roll - but appears Kurdish militia has kind of given up on generating "atrocity crisis" after some half-hearted stuff.

Of course I'm sure Norway now is losing sleep in the event that Russia can wake up and detox enough of its soldiers and get a few of their ships under way without sinking in order to mount an invasion near the North Cape - I mean, we're no longer reliable allies - but they can always take some of their oil zillions and take an extended diving trip to the Maldives or something.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:52 PM (QDnY+)

103 I like baseball, going to a game is a lot of fun, but haven't watched any on tv all year. Maybe if the Phillies were a real contender that would be different.
Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:50 PM (ZCEU2)

Gotta admit, one of the best things about this baseball season is that the Senators have finally made the World Series... IMMEDIATELY after Bryce Harpy left.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:53 PM (hku12)

104 Minor league baseball games are fun, really fun to take kids with all the in between innings events going ons.

Posted by: Skip at October 20, 2019 03:53 PM (ZCEU2)

105 And is there a more corrupt and capricious and arrogant group than MLB umpires?

PAC-12 refs.

Posted by: Diogenes at October 20, 2019 03:53 PM (axyOa)

106 The Umps blow. Stick them up their unions ass.

Embrace the new technology and get with the times.

It's 2019 not 1919.

Posted by: Hairyback Guy at October 20, 2019 03:54 PM (Z+IKu)

107 It looks like they just made things waaay worse at the collapse site. Wish I had a live stream of the local coverage. I'm sure it'll be on the nat'l news soon enough.
Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at October 20, 2019 03:51 PM (TLxpZ)

It always makes me nervous when anything goes wrong in New Orleans because you know they are always just this far away from eating babies.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:54 PM (HALdu)

108 It would be funny to watch a batter reflexively abuse pitch calling software.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:54 PM (JaLUs)

109 Not having a job to cover New Orleans has to be driving Shep Smith mad.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:54 PM (HALdu)

110 The Umps blow. Stick them up their unions ass.

Embrace the new technology and get with the times.

It's 2019 not 1919.
Posted by: Hairyback Guy at October 20, 2019 03:54 PM (Z+IKu)

I'm not sure there's anything better about 2019 than 1919... except the massive death rates from the flu.

Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:55 PM (hku12)

111 It looks like they just made things waaay worse at the collapse site. Wish I had a live stream of the local coverage. I'm sure it'll be on the nat'l news soon enough.

I would think that the lawyers would insist that there is no uncontrolled video of these rescue images.

Don't want to see a Charlie Foxtrot presented from multiple angles to a jury when seeking damages.

Posted by: Blue Bird of F'ing Joy at October 20, 2019 03:56 PM (lD3vL)

112 So they tried to blow up two cranes that were tangled in the collapsed building. One of them collapsed semi-properly but the other is now hanging across the top of the building with no support at all. Probably 75 tons or so dangling over Canal Street.

Posted by: Brian in New Orleans at October 20, 2019 03:56 PM (TLxpZ)

113 Have kind or started to like Sundays with CBD. Kind of like Sunday morning television with a witty and vulgar Charles Osgood.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 03:56 PM (HALdu)

114 I'd go to minor league, if it's cheap enough. There's a team about an hour away, wish one was closer. If cheap and easy enough a few games every season would be fine. Major league not even close to worth half of the expense and hassle.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:56 PM (QDnY+)

115 I mean, we're no longer reliable allies

--------

I mean, when have we been? Going back to the XYZ Affair, the US has always been a "play it as it lies" kind of country. Britain, oddly enough, being the exception. For some reason, we always hook them up.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:57 PM (5aX2M)

116 The variable strike zone from umpire to umpire is a part of the game. As long as they are consistent. Just like hitters, every team has a book on strike callers and you bet they read it.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 03:57 PM (yQpMk)

117 104. yes. Blue Rocks are closest to me. It's also fun to witness young talent developing.

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 03:57 PM (JaLUs)

118 There's a minor league team here, where I moved. The season was already over when we got here. Can't wait for Spring!
Posted by: BurtTC at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM (hku12)

We have a single A team moving in next year. Not sure who they're affiliated with. We lost our Oakland affiliated Double A team a few years ago. They were great their first season 35 years ago or so, with Canseco and McGuire on the field.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (MwFQu)

119 So yeah, a rectangle."

Nope. The animated rectangle on tv isn't the strike zone. It's a 5 sided prism, and the ball only has to touch it.

Posted by: Anon a mouse at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (Dx2t8)

120 Have they considering just demo'ing a huge part of NOLA and starting from scratch? Would be fun to watch.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (QDnY+)

121 As part of home plate training, do they ever practice being in the batters box, as another ump calls balls and strikes?

Posted by: Raul Endymion at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (Bf3hj)

122 NOT a Yankee's fan. But that organization somehow, someway, always finds a way.

Sell the team, Wilpon!

Posted by: Raul Endymion at October 20, 2019 04:00 PM (Bf3hj)

123 I'd go to minor league, if it's cheap enough.
There's a team about an hour away, wish one was closer. If cheap and
easy enough a few games every season would be fine. Major league not
even close to worth half of the expense and hassle.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 03:56 PM (QDnY+)

I learned to appreciate Stephen Strasburg when he was on assignment to the Potomac Nationals after his Tommy John surgery. Saw him warm up from about 50 feet away and pitch 3 innings in a tin can of a ballpark. Ticket was something like $10.

Posted by: Vendette at October 20, 2019 04:00 PM (Yeuu4)

124 "Last night, so this isn't a partisan gripe about the inherent unfairness of MLB toward The Yankees"

Fuck the fucking Yankees in the ass with a flaming concertina wire wrapped pineapple.

Posted by: Sharkman at October 20, 2019 04:00 PM (88cFV)

125 Trying to care less

Posted by: REDACTED at October 20, 2019 04:01 PM (rpxSz)

126 "Yeah you would have to adjust it for the batter. You would think this would give shorter batters an advantage."

See Eddie Gaedel.

Fun fact: Eddie Gaedel's grandnephew, Kyle Gaedele (6'3") played in the minor leagues for a while.

Posted by: Art Rondelet of Malmsey at October 20, 2019 04:01 PM (S+f+m)

127 Nood Food.

Posted by: olddog in mo at October 20, 2019 04:01 PM (Dhht7)

128 nope can't do it

Posted by: REDACTED at October 20, 2019 04:02 PM (rpxSz)

129
Umpiring clearly needs federal regulation. Which requires a new federal agency. It will be paid for with a new baseball tax.

Posted by: Semi-Literate Thug at October 20, 2019 04:02 PM (t5m5e)

130 I mean, when have we been? Going back to the XYZ Affair, the US has always been a "play it as it lies" kind of country. Britain, oddly enough, being the exception. For some reason, we always hook them up.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 03:57 PM (5aX2M)

There was that disagreement in 1812-1814. And there was the occasional local dustup over the exact location of the US-Canada border, especially in the Puget Sound islands.

54-40 or fight.

A Maine man, James Blaine, traded all of Upper Canada worth having for Aroostook County.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 04:02 PM (MwFQu)

131 We have a single A team moving in next year. Not
sure who they're affiliated with. We lost our Oakland affiliated Double
A team a few years ago. They were great their first season 35 years ago
or so, with Canseco and McGuire on the field.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (MwFQu)

I saw Canseco and McGuire when the As came to visit; hometown had the triple-A affiliate.

Among others, I saw Fernando Valenzuela pitch, close enough to see the eye-roll.

Posted by: Vendette at October 20, 2019 04:03 PM (Yeuu4)

132 Pitchers could rightly complain that they don't get the high strike anymore.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:04 PM (yQpMk)

133 Was sarcasm. For this planet and species, we're very reliable.

And for those who doubt us, the solution is easy - never, ever, seek our help again. Voila.

Oh. Right.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 04:04 PM (QDnY+)

134 Anyway here's a bro-hug to anyone smarting from their team not advancing in the playoffs. It's disappointing. *very superficial hug at arm's length*

Posted by: kallisto at October 20, 2019 04:05 PM (JaLUs)

135 My love for baseball got stomped when the Expos moved to Washington.

Washington:

First in War.
First in Peace.
Last in the American League.

But this year, oddly, first in the National League.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 04:06 PM (MwFQu)

136 To me, one of the most endearing aspects of baseball rules is that they are essentially common law, having been codified to address actual occurrences in the game. For instance, there was originally no rule that said that he runner had to advance from home plate to first on a ball hit in fair territory. Batsmen who hit in to obvious double play balls refused to advance, and force baserunners to advance, and just waited at the plate to be tagged out, exchanging one out for two.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:07 PM (yQpMk)

137 Was sarcasm. For this planet and species, we're very reliable.

And for those who doubt us, the solution is easy - never, ever, seek our help again. Voila.

Oh. Right.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 04:04 PM (QDnY

-----

LOL. Ok, I get it.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 04:07 PM (5aX2M)

138 Vendette, saw Strasburg pitch his last college game. Now that was priced right. Think it was free. Can see the stadium lights from my porch.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2019 04:07 PM (QDnY+)

139 Yudishthira's Dice @ 115-Always hooked England up? Looks like they're on their own with this mohadan invasion they got going on. But hey, we are allowing that to happen here too. Question is who is gonna step in and call this pitch?

Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 04:09 PM (UUkQp)

140 The other cool thing about baseball is that if you don't know the actual rule, just imagine what is the fairest thing to do in a situation and you will be correct. I know of no counter intuitive, contradictory, or unfair rules in baseball.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:11 PM (yQpMk)

141 There was that disagreement in 1812-1814. And there was the occasional local dustup over the exact location of the US-Canada border, especially in the Puget Sound islands.

54-40 or fight.

A Maine man, James Blaine, traded all of Upper Canada worth having for Aroostook County.

------

Oh, for sure. I was mostly talking about the last 150 years. Particularly the last 75, when we've been maintaining them as a prosperous regional power for nothing in return (except for the constant undermining and backbiting, Thatcher excepted).

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 04:11 PM (5aX2M)

142 I do encourage you, CBD, to write that piece about MLB's "inherent unfairness" towards the poor, poor Yankees. I haven't read a good piece of written humor in quite a long, long time!

Posted by: John Rogers at October 20, 2019 04:16 PM (IQhlk)

143 Babylon Bee reports MLB replacing umpires with bears.

Posted by: phillip weiss at October 20, 2019 04:18 PM (pECoJ)

144 Sometimes the rules are set up to be fair to the umpire. For instance, a tipped ball into the catchers mitt, in his normal position, being a called strike. Sure, most times it's obvious to the umpire's eyes and ears that the bat touched the ball, but sometimes it barely touches. Having this rule prevents the umpire from having to call very marginal cases. The batter swings, the ball is in the catchers mitt, it's a called strike. One could argue that it is fairer to the hitter as well since it's not a caught foul and an out, except on strike three, just like any called strike.

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:19 PM (yQpMk)

145 The best definition that I ever heard for a called strike is "a ball thrown so well as to be hittable, yet thrown so very well that it remains unhit".

Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:22 PM (yQpMk)

146 I live in Houston so F the Yankees and their woose fans.

Posted by: Dogbert at October 20, 2019 04:23 PM (+dTjI)

147 Oh, and there was that time when they abetted a coup attempt a couple of years back.

If I were SecState, Britain would bend the knee, or twist in the wind.

Luckily for Britain, the fake-o, one-sided "Special Relationship" is maintained, despite the manifest reasons it shouldn't.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 04:23 PM (5aX2M)

148 CBD, you are right, the NBA refs inject themselves into the game an order of magnitude beyond the MLB. The MLB umps are pikers in comparison. Still, the strike zone in game 6 ALCS sucked.

I'm just glad to quit hearing Joe Buck go down on all the Yankee team members.

Posted by: Leland at October 20, 2019 04:24 PM (IG4sd)

149 95 m/h is 140 ft/s. Home plate is about 18 inches wide and less than 18 inches deep. A pitch is over home plate around 140th of one second. How can anyone reliably call that in all but the most obvious cases. Anything around the perimeter of the zone is impossible. And is the zone defined by the extended distance when the batter is standing or by the compressed distance when he is ready to hit? How many other variables are there?

Posted by: WarEagle82 at October 20, 2019 04:25 PM (+Kpte)

150 Oh, and there was that time when they abetted a coup attempt a couple of years back.

If I were SecState, Britain would bend the knee, or twist in the wind.

Luckily for Britain, the fake-o, one-sided "Special Relationship" is maintained, despite the manifest reasons it shouldn't.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2019 04:23 PM (5aX2M)

The have to be made to pay for what they did.

Posted by: not so at October 20, 2019 04:35 PM (HALdu)

151 In the past 5-6 years I have come back to watching MBL since the strikes. With that being said I only watching about 10 reg season games but will watch all of the playoffs and series. Lovin' it that the series will be Astros vs Nationals

Originally from Jersey. Mother loved, loved the Yankees and Fred Couples (not that either has anything to do with the other). Me, eh, when it comes to the Yanks. Sorry for your loss.

SOOOOOO GLAD THE YANKS DIDN'T MAKE IT.

Posted by: zanne at October 20, 2019 04:40 PM (NLEnr)

152 Guess I'll have to dig out my Mets cap.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 04:42 PM (MwFQu)

153 The only problem with inter league play is that both Boston teams can't lose when they play.

Posted by: Fox2! at October 20, 2019 04:43 PM (MwFQu)

154 not so, the strike zone is like the G spot. some guys can find it and some can't.
Posted by: Eromero at October 20, 2019 03:44 PM

My people have developed a solution for this issue.

Posted by: Abdul bin McAbdullyface at October 20, 2019 04:50 PM (DMUuz)

155 What is best in life? The lamentations of Yankee fans.

Posted by: blake - are you DMV experienced?
at October 20, 2019 04:54 PM (WEBkv)

156 The older I get, the more I wonder how adults can root for jerseys.

It IS pathetic. Especially when grown men act as though THEY play on the team. All they do is sit on the sofa and watch.

"My team beat your team, which makes me ... uh ... what?"

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 20, 2019 05:08 PM (YqDXo)

157
*types*
*deletes*

Posted by: strong pimp paw mcclaws at October 20, 2019 05:09 PM (13dPG)

158 Unfairness of the MLB towards the Yankees??

You're just trolling. Well done.

Posted by: Puddleglum at October 20, 2019 05:09 PM (A+lP4)

159 95 m/h is 140 ft/s. Home plate is about 18 inches wide and less than 18 inches deep. A pitch is over home plate around 140th of one second. How can anyone reliably call that in all but the most obvious cases. Anything around the perimeter of the zone is impossible.

Actually, it's not as hard as you might think. Good hitters are looking at the ball in passing, and usually have a very good eye for balls and strikes.

Umpires are in a great position, standing directly in the path of the ball and looking down at the plate to see if the ball passes through where they're looking. Umpires invariably set up on the inside corner (i.e., 3B side for a RH hitter, 1B side for a LH hitter) so they can usually call inside pitches pretty well. Outside pitches, not so much. Most umpires will give a few inches on the outside corner, probably partly because they have to judge the distance the ball is away from them.

Usually umpires can also judge balls and strikes by reference to the catcher. For example, anything above shoulder height on the catcher was high when it crossed the plate. If the catcher is set up directly behind the plate, his knees are good approximations to the corners of the plate. Pitchers in bullpens often throw left knee, right knee, left shoulder, right shoulder for this reason.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 20, 2019 05:17 PM (YqDXo)

160 132 Pitchers could rightly complain that they don't get the high strike anymore.
Posted by: Grump928(C) at October 20, 2019 04:04 PM (yQpMk)

That's absolutely true. They don't get it because batting averages would plummet if they did. Even now, working hitters up and down is very effective, especially when the pitcher is throwing 90+. Notice how many batters whiff when they get strikes 1 and 2 down, and then a fastball up (out of the zone). If high strikes were called, strikeouts would skyrocket.

Posted by: Deplorable Jay Guevara at October 20, 2019 05:22 PM (YqDXo)

161 http://bit.ly/33F8cuS
*********
Want your MIND BLOWN?

The Jeffrey Epstein Network Graph Commons

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 05:34 PM (BqBId)

162 Joe West needs to lose about 20 pounds ... from the neck up.

Posted by: Bea Arthur's Dick at October 20, 2019 05:37 PM (jWe5r)

163 Want your MIND BLOWN?

The Jeffrey Epstein Network Graph Commons
Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 05:34 PM (BqBId)

Link doesn't work in Brave. Must have some funky scripts. Fuck 'em if they can't display their wares in good old HTML.

Message to content creators: if your content is something you deem to be important, and you want it widely disseminated, don't wrap it up in funky scripts or novel software. Use the tried and true.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 20, 2019 05:44 PM (QugKX)

164 http://bit.ly/33F8cuS
*******
The Jeffrey Epstein Network Graph Commons
*******
AOP Try this

Posted by: derp state is in deep shit at October 20, 2019 05:51 PM (BqBId)

165 121 As part of home plate training, do they ever practice being in the batters box, as another ump calls balls and strikes?

Posted by: Raul Endymion at October 20, 2019 03:58 PM (Bf3hj)

No, they don't. In fact, umpire schools don't even teach their students how to call balls and strikes, because it's too hard. The schools figure the umps will figure it out for themselves as they work their way through the minor leagues (just as the players do).

Posted by: mongo at October 20, 2019 05:52 PM (LROYh)

166 Does your seeing-eye dog need laser eye surgery too!

Posted by: andycanuck at October 20, 2019 05:53 PM (Dh1wo)

167 "And there was the occasional local dustup over the exact location of
the US-Canada border, especially in the Puget Sound islands"

Pig War!

Posted by: Bea Arthur's Dick at October 20, 2019 05:54 PM (jWe5r)

168 I can hear the screams of George Will from here.

Posted by: JoeBar at October 20, 2019 05:55 PM (u02T3)

169 I'd just point out that the Yankees used to win when George Costanza was the Assistant to the Traveling Secretary. Just sayin'.

Posted by: andycanuck at October 20, 2019 05:59 PM (Dh1wo)

170 I stopped caring about baseball when my Astros moved to the Fake Baseball League in 2013.

Posted by: Catch Thirty-Thr33 at October 20, 2019 06:01 PM (ZXzOT)

171 Not a baseball fan, but just a comment on CBDs recommendation.

It is a little ill-thought. Half the umps will be below average every month. If it was completely random, then half of them will be below average the next month. That would suspend 25% of them!

His point is well taken though. In manufacturing we use control charts and there are accepted ways of determining if a measured parameter is "out of control" and in need of remediation.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 20, 2019 06:42 PM (LWu6U)

172 reading the comments,...

I think humans have two needs that pro-sports satisfies. First, I think most people have a need to belong to a group, or groups. Religion, Work, families, communities, etc. are all examples, but pro sports also qualifies.

Not sure why this is, but it is interesting to me to think of how changes on other areas like the decay in religious participation, the disintegration of families, and the dilution of communities has possibly caused people to identify with groups in other areas such as politics.

Anther basic human need is some success each day. People can not deal with constant failure, defeat, oppression and attack; and so they find ways of declaring victory over what they can.

This too affects our political life and I think it can be seen in people becoming "activists" and SJWs. They suck at everything and lose at everything, so they attack others for not being as woke as they are. I think it also causes people to cheat and break laws, and it causes people like the never trumpers - who may have been legitimately against Trump before the election - to distort reality and become so smug in their attacks on him now. These are constructed victories since they are not really winning or succeeding at anything and that is much the same with pro sports.

OK, I go to work now.

Posted by: Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest at October 20, 2019 06:50 PM (LWu6U)

173 Meh, they already have graphic super imposition of the 'strike zone' on TV. Getting 3 camera's set up to take pitches out of the umpire's power would improve the game. Fuck judging umpires, those assholes are blind or stupid, sometimes both.

Posted by: Gmac- The light at the end of the tunnel is the Trump 2020 train. at October 20, 2019 07:06 PM (qZdIZ)

174 F that

I'm okay with them being trained with the pitch computer as part of the process but replacing umps with a computer? F that with a backhoe.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at October 20, 2019 07:53 PM (KZzsI)

175 The ball is in or out of the strike zone. I agree CBD, we need to minimize human error in baseball umping. And get some of those fat fucks off the field.

Posted by: Jason M at October 21, 2019 12:16 AM (KcWn0)

176 C'mon, everyone knows ump joe blow has a wide strike zone (except in the late innings on the 3rd full moon during leap years). It's the human element (sarc).

Posted by: stc at October 21, 2019 05:27 AM (n62PU)

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