I recently went to a Las Vegas Aviators game and got to see first hand the challenge system that the article talks about . Both teams used the challenges early and often , both teams were successful on the first use and then it alternated successful , fail and so on , but by the 7th inning both teams had no challenges left and the game was tie in the top of the 9th . Vegas lost the game but I didn’t really feel it made a difference in this particular game . It was definitely different seeing the automated strike zone review on the jumbo tron , it was basically an animated view of the pitch coming toward and then across home plate with a highlighted area for the strike zone , if the pitch in any way touched the strike zone area it was a strike and if it missed a ball It was nothing spectacular imo . I’m a believer that if the human element of officiating is slowly removed , which it will be , the games will slowly suffocate themselves to becoming nothing more than very expensive video games . I prefer the human calls , good , bad or indifferent.

Volt, totally agree.
It was all about him and he suxs.

I have been an umpire for 24 years part time, at HS and Collegiate level.

Human interaction is part of the game!!

langeo said:

I recently went to a Las Vegas Aviators game and got to see first hand the challenge system that the article talks about . Both teams used the challenges early and often , both teams were successful on the first use and then it alternated successful , fail and so on , but by the 7th inning both teams had no challenges left and the game was tie in the top of the 9th . Vegas lost the game but I didn’t really feel it made a difference in this particular game . It was definitely different seeing the automated strike zone review on the jumbo tron , it was basically an animated view of the pitch coming toward and then across home plate with a highlighted area for the strike zone , if the pitch in any way touched the strike zone area it was a strike and if it missed a ball It was nothing spectacular imo . I’m a believer that if the human element of officiating is slowly removed , which it will be , the games will slowly suffocate themselves to becoming nothing more than very expensive video games . I prefer the human calls , good , bad or indifferent.

I couldn’t agree more Langeo…the majority of people who want the robo umps are sports bettors, albeit disgruntled ones…

Gimme the robo umps for balls and strikes. It’s nearly impossible for anyone to correctly call pitches, as is proven every time you watch a game on tv. I appreciate the nostalgia but like everything else baseball will evolve, good or bad. I’m still pissed about the NL using a DH, lol

I’m w/you on the DH thing Volt…but prefer the fallibility and necessary adaptation needed for the hitters when it comes to balls/strikes…

I will add about the challenge system I saw that the whole process happened fairly quickly and the crowd got very involved with the outcome . I believe that is a BIG part of going that direction for MLB . Getting the crowd involved = more excitement which = more money . I had a great time and we are going again on Jersey giveaway night in two weeks . The last game they gave free Aviator hats to fans at the entrance which was also very cool .

Barney said:

I’m w/you on the DH thing Volt…but prefer the fallibility and necessary adaptation needed for the hitters when it comes to balls/strikes…

IMO, there was SO much strategy involved when a pitcher would have to bat. Added a lot to the game, which is now lost. Mike sad

Umpires today absolutely suck. They need to get better. Period. The automated review system in MiLB is very fast and not time consuming. If you don’t want the robo umps, get better because right now it’s a joke and has never been worse. No accountability whatsoever. I mean between innings these guys need to simply grab an iPad and see what they are missing and adjust on the fly. 

^ this

Well, it’s official…but I fear the subject matter of whining about the umps is far from over…