Robo Umps Highlight Real Problems, Offer Wrong Solutions

MLB is finally experimenting with the electronic strike zone (aka “Robo Umps”) in the Atlantic League and while real problems have been highlighted, the wrong solutions are being offered.

On Monday, Scott Miller of Bleacher Report published a piece illustrating skepticism on behalf of MLB players in regards to the impending electronic strike zone (aka “Robo Umps”). While baseball is definitely in need of more accuracy behind the plate, how they envision these robot umpires to work is not a real solution.

To begin, let’s highlight what the real problem is. During the 2018 season, according to MLB and the Umpires Union, umpires missed about 3% of balls and strikes calls. However, an independent study by Boston University showed that the number was significantly higher than that.

In short, umpires are missing too many calls behind the plate, which could negatively impact the result of a game on either side of the field.

Now, let’s take a look at what the solution is that is being offered by MLB. According to Scott Miller’s piece, baseball is testing Robo Umps using eight Atlantic League teams.

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Developed by TrackMan, the electronic strike zone is a system of highly calibrated lasers that reads a pitch as it crosses home plate and readjusts itself depending on the batter. The home plate umpire wears an earpiece which instantly receives one of three commands from the TrackMan System: “Strike,” “Ball,” or “No Track.”

A “No Track” command means that the system couldn’t identify the call and therefore the home plate umpire would have to use his judgment. Home plate umps also have to determine whether a batter checks his swing or not.

This solution, making the home plate umpire a middle man of sorts, seems complicated and will most definitely present MLB with other unforeseen issues.

Issues like, what if the TrackMan System loses its signal and can’t communicate with home plate umps? What if someone hacks the system in favor of one team? What if the stadium is too loud and the ump can’t hear the call?

With so many moving parts, people will be left wondering just how efficient this system will ultimately be.

My solution to this real problem is to use the Robo Ump as a grading system for real umpires. Just like players get suspended, fined, or sent down for poor play or misconduct, the same should apply to umpires.

Using the TrackMan System, grade each home plate umpire on accuracy. Any ump that doesn’t meet a minimum number of accuracy (say 97% of calls are accurate per game) gets demoted to the minors until he can work his number back up.

This ensures that umpires do their best to remain true to the rule of the strike zone as written in MLB’s rulebook. It also eliminates the need for umps to have to recant on a missed call after the game. The issue is dealt with and you move on to the next game.