Taking the Human Element Out of Calling Balls and Strikes

BlueSox — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 21:15:43 -0000

Ever since the 2002 season, a company called Questec has supplied MLB with a product, the Umpire Information System (UIS), that gives umpires feedback on the accuracy of their calls of balls and strikes after each game.

The system consists of four cameras, two in the outfield stands above the first and third base lines to track each pitch, and two at field level to establish the strike zone for each batter. The system determines if the ball intersects any part of the three-dimensional strike zone and records the data on a CD, which is made available to the home-plate umpire after the game.

At first, umpires were adamantly opposed to the idea and a grievance was filed, which subsequently went nowhere. The only concession the ump's union extracted from MLB was the stipulation that MLB would use other methods of evaluating umps in addition to UIS.

Reasons for the ump's resistance to UIS?

The system had problems with accuracy.
It was not installed in all MLB parks.
Players on deck or in coaches boxes sometimes blocked the cameras needed to establish the strike zone on each batter.
Umps had the uncomfortable feeling of being second-guessed.

More recently, many umps have come to appreciate the feedback UIS provides. In Feb. 2007, Charlie Reliford called it a "...tool to make ourselves better."

My question is this: If the accuracy problems can be virtually eliminated, why not use UIS to actually call balls and strikes?

There would still be an umpire behind the plate. He would simply relay the call of the system to the viewers and fans at the park.

There would also have to be safe-guards built into the system to ensure it is not malfunctioning. If it was, the umpire could shut it off and call balls and strikes himself.

Also, all major league parks would obviously have to have the system installed -- as it is only installed currently in about 11 ballparks.

Additional References:
http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-outside-corner/
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02E5DD1F31F93AA15756C0A9659C8B63

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Taking the Human Element Out of Calling Balls and Strikes