Umpire Challenge system coming to spring training

[zambonir]

Also, new Umpire CBA was done in December that basically lets MLB implement it as they see fit in 2026 (would be voted on by competition committee but league has majority of spots on it).

New details emerge about MLB’s upcoming test of robo-umps in spring training

I've been sort of agnostic about it but this stat kind of blew my mind:

One change players will have to adapt to is owed to the fact that robo-umps standardize the size of the strike zone regardless of count. That differs from the variations customarily shown by human umpires. According to data the league included in the presentation, at the big league level the human zone on a 3-0 count typically measures 550 square inches. On an 0-2 count, humans reduced the strike zone to 412 square inches. By contrast, ABS sets the size of the zone at 443 square inches in every count.

Also fascinating: they have to measure every player and make sure the players and teams don't cheat that process.

Will be two challenges per team (there are three in the minors)

In three-challenge contests, MLB found that the number of challenges actually issued was 5.8 per game on average. With two-challenge games, it was 3.9.

The league wants to ensure the action isn’t interrupted too often, which is why it’s trying out the version with only two at the moment. In the extreme, MLB has seen a game in the minors with 13 challenges (three were available to the teams in that one).

[Austinfan]

One impact over time will be to improve umpire calls, with immediate feedback and after game review, umpires with strike zones that vary significantly from the "norm" will either change or be weeded out.

It will reduce the value of "framing" pitches which is good, catcher antics shouldn't impact calls.

[julio]

According to data the league included in the presentation, at the big league level the human zone on a 3-0 count typically measures 550 square inches. On an 0-2 count, humans reduced the strike zone to 412 square inches. By contrast, ABS sets the size of the zone at 443 square inches in every count.

In other words, umpires really do call "eveners" - they're reluctant (probably subconsciously) to call fourth balls or third strikes.

This implies that robo-umps will call more walks and K's, meaning fewer balls in play?

[andyb]

This implies that robo-umps will call more walks and K's, meaning fewer balls in play?

Most likely. Maybe they tweak the strike zone a bit to make it larger but the automated umps will likely lead to more walks.

Which comes back to the point I keep shouting from the rooftops - just deaden the ball a bit. Ball and bat manufacturing technology is better and balls just travel further these days. And players are stronger. So make it less of a penalty to throw strikes and suddenly pitchers will actually throw more strikes.

Simple solution that nobody seems to grasp.

[philsphan67]

I 100% agree, deaden the ball 1-2% and I don't understand why the small market teams don't move their fences back some when able. They are not signing the big sluggers anyway.

The MBL needs more players trying to just put the ball in play and not trying to hit HR's with 2 strikes.

[bkox]

would deadening the ball really provide any more excitement to the game? Or would it just mean more ground balls to 2nd base or fly balls to an OF?

One thing we arent remembering IMO is that we also have elite defensive positioning decided by computers. Every player has a card about where they should position themselves for every hitter. This has also cut down on offense IMO. And is a ground ball to 2nd base really any more exciting than a strikeout?

The other thing about messing with the ball. Players dont adjust to stuff like that easily. So we could see several years of an even more boring game.

[zambonir]

It's a bit of a Catch-22, they want more balls in play and fewer strikeouts but they don't want fewer homers.

the strike zone thing will be a process. They will probably stick to the challenge system for this entire umps CBA (five years) to see how it plays out. Then fully automated after that maybe.

[andyb]

It's a bit of a Catch-22, they want more balls in play and fewer strikeouts but they don't want fewer homers.

But they should want fewer homers. Bring back defensive play. It is more exciting. Home Runs are kind of boring if everyone can hit 20+.

[bkox]

Home Runs are kind of boring if everyone can hit 20+.

Us old timers may feel that way... but how does the younger crowd feel? Which gets more excitement for the game. Judge's run for 62 or a few more singles bouncing up the middle? Maybe if it generated an honest shot at a 400 BA for someone.. but even when Luis Arráez was still hitting .400 late in June 2023 it didnt generate much buzz. Maybe it would have been different it had been a NY or LA player.

HRs generate excitement. Would there been as much excitement in Sept is Ohtani was chasing 30-50 instead of 50-50?

And to be clear.. I agree with you. I think the best era of the game was the 1980s.. 40 or so HRs led the league. but you also had multiple players stealing 100 bases, or 75 bases etc. It felt more exciting.

[zambonir]

Home Runs are kind of boring if everyone can hit 20+.

If only that were really the case! Five of the Phillies regulars couldn't do better than 16 including the LF, 3B and C (though JT was injured and Marsh platoons). And Stott's 11 was fewer than Cesar Hernandez hit in his two best seasons. Or Freddy Galvis in five seasons.

I don't disagree with you but between its entertainment value and its analytics value (which was no secret even before analytics) not sure there's any interest in deadening the ball or lengthening fences. I guess the hope would be that a more consistent and consistently enforced strike zone leads to more contact in earlier counts.

[bkox]

lengthening fences.

Yep.. The Orioles pretty quickly reversed course with their LF dimensions

[bkeich]

I would rather see a “just fix the egregious errors” system. Make the calls within some small “deadband” (say 1-2 inches) automatically be on the umps call, but pitches well inside or outside of the strike zone simply buzz the home plate ump telling him he had a bad miss and to fix it. Tennis can judge in and out within 2-3 seconds, no reason baseball can’t do the same.

The tricky part to me is the strike zone actually moves a little bit because of the batter. What was a strike on Dave Parker was a ball to Larry Bowa

[Austinfan]

If the strike zone is consistent, both hitters and pitchers will adjust.

Pitchers will stop throwing it off the plate and take advantage of certain umpires who call strikes on inside/outside zone pitches on a regular basis.

Hitters will be more willing to lay off pitches if they know there's a "fair' strike zone, and pitchers will be forced to give them something to hit.