Around Baseball 2023

[Laika]

I don't understand this notion that umpires call an oval and "they don’t call that inside corner, and that outside corner. There’s a reason they don’t call it: because you can’t hit that."

 

Can someone slow this down for me or something? They're suggesting they don't call the up and in pitch, or the low and away pitch because you can't hit those? WTF?

 

Tbh the strike zone probably SHOULD be more of an oval instead of a square/rectangle.

 

if we think the umps dont get calls right now an oval makes it that much more worse IMHO.

 

I think the human brain would just be / is naturally better at calling a circle or oval

 

it's sort of easy to imagine the centre of the zone and judge balls or strikes based on how far the pitch is from the middle

 

it's not as easy to imagine a rectangle floating in space and judge whether or not a ball touched the corner of it

 

the problem is that the circle or oval would be harder to define in writing. it's easy to define the floating rectangle in writing.

 

hmmmm

[Brownie19]

I think the human brain would just be / is naturally better at calling a circle or oval

 

it's sort of easy to imagine the centre of the zone and judge balls or strikes based on how far the pitch is from the middle

 

it's not as easy to imagine a rectangle floating in space and judge whether or not a ball touched the corner of it

 

the problem is that the circle or oval would be harder to define in writing. it's easy to define the floating rectangle in writing.

 

hmmmm

 

I suspect stats suggest there are areas of the strike zone that umpires 'miss' more than others. I always assumed this was due to human error and simply not being able to see the entire strike zone equally (as they have to try and look over the catcher). I never considered they may not call certain areas strikes because the hitter can't hit those pitches.

 

You can't tell people "well I decided to not call that a strike (even though it met all the requirements of the strike zone, as per the rules of baseball) simply because I didn't think the batter could hit that pitch". That is so f***ing bizarre to me.

[Stangstag]

I suspect stats suggest there are areas of the strike zone that umpires 'miss' more than others. I always assumed this was due to human error and simply not being able to see the entire strike zone equally (as they have to try and look over the catcher). I never considered they may not call certain areas strikes because the hitter can't hit those pitches.

 

You can't tell people "well I decided to not call that a strike (even though it met all the requirements of the strike zone, as per the rules of baseball) simply because I didn't think the batter could hit that pitch". That is so f***ing bizarre to me.

 

That’s why Im saying they should just change the official zone to an oval anyways, since that’s what’s currently being called

[Laika]

I suspect stats suggest there are areas of the strike zone that umpires 'miss' more than others. I always assumed this was due to human error and simply not being able to see the entire strike zone equally (as they have to try and look over the catcher). I never considered they may not call certain areas strikes because the hitter can't hit those pitches.

 

You can't tell people "well I decided to not call that a strike (even though it met all the requirements of the strike zone, as per the rules of baseball) simply because I didn't think the batter could hit that pitch". That is so f***ing bizarre to me.

 

Manfred could have said it better.

 

Basically, the called strike zone is a bit different than the defined strike zone because of a process of natural evolution between hitters and pitchers and umps. The game ITSELF has more or less decided that certain corner pitches are not strikes, because everyone involved agrees it would be dumb if they are strikes.

 

Trying to think of an example from another sport.

 

The old "neighbourhood" play at second base in baseball used to be like this; umps would give the infielder the out even if they stepped over the bag. But they legislated that away.

 

In hockey, players often technically ice the puck but as long as they were close to the red line the referees don't call it.

[Deadpool]

I dig this

 

[Brownie19]

Manfred could have said it better.

 

Basically, the called strike zone is a bit different than the defined strike zone because of a process of natural evolution between hitters and pitchers and umps. The game ITSELF has more or less decided that certain corner pitches are not strikes, because everyone involved agrees it would be dumb if they are strikes.

 

Yeah that's fair. I'm just not so sure I agree that's what's happening. I still think you see that low and away pitch (which, depending on the pitcher and the pitch - certainly seems unhittable) called a strike regularly. I suspect the stats suggest the 'missed' strikes are typically in the 4 'corners' of the defined strike zone - but it's not like they miss them "all the time".

 

 

At the end of the day - I think it's a fair point that the accuracy of umpires has improved dramatically over the past 25+ years and with more technology available to help train/improve umpires, there's certainly a possibility we are going to get accurate enough that we don't need to involve a robo ump system.

[Spanky__99]

I suspect stats suggest there are areas of the strike zone that umpires 'miss' more than others. I always assumed this was due to human error and simply not being able to see the entire strike zone equally (as they have to try and look over the catcher). I never considered they may not call certain areas strikes because the hitter can't hit those pitches.

 

You can't tell people "well I decided to not call that a strike (even though it met all the requirements of the strike zone, as per the rules of baseball) simply because I didn't think the batter could hit that pitch". That is so f***ing bizarre to me.

 

Agreed the up and in and down and away are 2 quadrons you want your pitchers to hit given the limited contact, that's the whole point, so stupid. lmao

[Spanky__99]

Brownie's locked in... he's open day ready, folks! Preach, brother!

[Spanky__99]

Yeah that's fair. I'm just not so sure I agree that's what's happening. I still think you see that low and away pitch (which, depending on the pitcher and the pitch - certainly seems unhittable) called a strike regularly. I suspect the stats suggest the 'missed' strikes are typically in the 4 'corners' of the defined strike zone - but it's not like they miss them "all the time".

 

 

At the end of the day - I think it's a fair point that the accuracy of umpires has improved dramatically over the past 25+ years and with more technology available to help train/improve umpires, there's certainly a possibility we are going to get accurate enough that we don't need to involve a robo ump system.

 

For the latter to happen, they need to eliminate the Umpshow douchecanoes, so it'd take forever, bring in the robo-umps.

[Brownie19]

For the latter to happen, they need to eliminate the Umpshow douchecanoes, so it'd take forever, bring in the robo-umps.

 

Well that's true and unfortunately the umpiring profession seems to draw in an unconceivably high number of douchecanoes. They need to work harder to weed these guys out in the minors.

[Krylian]

I dig this

 

 

What a simple, but great idea.

[Stangstag]

Gerrit Cole has a new haircut

[Brownie19]

Verlander to the DL with a low grade teres major strain. I'll be back - need to google teres major strain. Feels like it's a f***ing typo by The Score.

[connorp]

Just saw they sent Grayson down. Was basically guaranteed a spot if he didn’t suck. Wonder if they’ll manipulate it now, prob

[jaysblue]

Verlander to the DL with a low grade teres major strain. I'll be back - need to google teres major strain. Feels like it's a f***ing typo by The Score.

 

Damn that sucks. Could be out all of April.

[Spanky__99]

Damn that sucks. Could be out all of April.

 

At least.

[Stangstag]

Just saw they sent Grayson down. Was basically guaranteed a spot if he didn’t suck. Wonder if they’ll manipulate it now, prob

 

He was having an awful spring so I get it honestly

[John_Havok]

Yeah that's fair. I'm just not so sure I agree that's what's happening. I still think you see that low and away pitch (which, depending on the pitcher and the pitch - certainly seems unhittable) called a strike regularly. I suspect the stats suggest the 'missed' strikes are typically in the 4 'corners' of the defined strike zone - but it's not like they miss them "all the time".

 

 

At the end of the day - I think it's a fair point that the accuracy of umpires has improved dramatically over the past 25+ years and with more technology available to help train/improve umpires, there's certainly a possibility we are going to get accurate enough that we don't need to involve a robo ump system.

 

THis is the part that i liked the most and had to most questions about:

 

"“Literally after every game, they get an email with the pitches they missed. They must log in and look at the ones they missed. And there’s commentary about how they missed, and why they missed."

 

So .. what happens when guys miss the same pitches over and over and over and over again like Angel Hernandez? Reprecussions is not the right word, but what training or additional support are they mandated to take in order to get these calls more right in the future?

[John_Havok]

Verlander to the DL with a low grade teres major strain. I'll be back - need to google teres major strain. Feels like it's a f***ing typo by The Score.

 

ANATOMY

noun: teres major

either of two muscles passing below the shoulder joint from the scapula to the upper part of the humerus, one ( teres major ) drawing the arm toward the body and rotating it inward, the other ( teres minor ) rotating it outward.

 

Well, i learned something new today, had never heard of that before either.

[connorp]

He was having an awful spring so I get it honestly

 

Yeah, can’t blame them

[Stangstag]

 

I think this is what Kikuchi had last year

[Solaxys]

https://streamable.com/pdg2c7

 

What a f***in catch.

[Stangstag]

https://streamable.com/pdg2c7

 

What a f***in catch.

 

Only good because he f***ed up the route so badly and stuck his glove out as a last ditch effort.

 

Looks really cool, but more lucky than good

[Terminator]

 

I think this is what Kikuchi had last year

 

The Rockies newly extended closer is out with anxiety/the yips. That might be the most Colorado Rockies tweet I’ve ever read.

[harvey16]

The Rockies newly extended closer is out with anxiety/the yips. That might be the most Colorado Rockies tweet I’ve ever read.

 

Colorado, where pitchers careers go to die.

[Pendleton]

Why only five games tonight with three being late starts and none being Blue Jays, why? Why why why?

[Spanky__99]

21 SB's yesterday, the most since 1907 on opening day.

[BTS]

21 SB's yesterday, the most since 1907 on opening day.

 

I love that speed is going to be a bigger part of the game

[Deadpool]

21 SB's yesterday, the most since 1907 on opening day.

 

I was shocked that Chappy was the only one to even attempt a steal. I thought that 3-2, 1 out count with KK on 2nd and Bo on 1st would have been an absolute no-brainer (at least Vladdy beat out the double play, but still...)

[Laika]

I was shocked that Chappy was the only one to even attempt a steal. I thought that 3-2, 1 out count with KK on 2nd and Bo on 1st would have been an absolute no-brainer (at least Vladdy beat out the double play, but still...)

 

Chapman's seemed like a hit and run