Aston 91 said:

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Sounds like a good first step. How do they establish the upper and lower limit of the strike zone for each batter? I can see how inside/outside would be easy to do since the plate is fixed - but not sure how they set the vertical parameters considering the different heights of the batters.

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For ABS:

Top of zone is 53.5% of batter's height
Bottom of zone is 27% of better's height

(Height is standing straight up without shoes)

Pitch location is recorded on 2D plane in middle of the plate.

The speed of all professional sports (and most high level amateur) is far beyond the ability of old fat blind guys to officiate.

ABS will be used in the All Star game.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/sports/mlb-all-star-game-will-use-robo-ump-challenge-system/

I know I'm insane for suggesting this but why can't the zone be the exact same for everyone. How is it fair to Judge that his zone is like 6" bigger than Altuve's. All basketball players shoot from the same freethrow line regardless of their size. Is there an example of another sport that changes the rules based on a players size. Just make it the same for everyone and that will make the robo ump even easier.

sellthefarm said:

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I know I'm insane for suggesting this but why can't the zone be the exact same for everyone. How is it fair to Judge that his zone is like 6" bigger than Altuve's. All basketball players shoot from the same freethrow line regardless of their size. Is there an example of another sport that changes the rules based on a players size. Just make it the same for everyone and that will make the robo ump even easier.

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Average MLB height is 6'1". Average US male height is 5'9". Sure, they have a smaller strike zone, but overall the data doesn't really support the argument that being Altuve's size is an advantage over being Judge's size when it comes to playing baseball overall.

a.froman said:

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IslanderAg04 said:

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Who are all the over bearing parents supposed to yell at?

Baseball has survived for 100 years with umps, it's a part of the sport. Having played baseball at a high level as a catcher mind you, i think it's bad idea. Umps have different strike zones, learn to adapt. One of the best parts for a pitcher is watching umps wring em up.

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The problem is that you are not supposed to have different strike zones. The rule book specifically gives you the strike zone. I understand missing a call but to not blatantly call something because that is not "your zone" is a disregard of the rules.

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I think we will get to ABS calling all the pitches in a few years and at that point they will change the definition of a strike in the rule book to match how ABS actually works, but I just wanted to point out that ABS is not currently calling the strike zone as it is described in the rule book either. It has its own strike zone too (but it is more consistent in calling its own zone than human umpires are).

HJack20 said:

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If the technology exists to instantly get the call right and we're allowing challenges, why not just have every pitch be automatically called by the computer?

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Almost nobody actually wants this except fans. MiLB tested this for an entire season then surveyed the league and only 11% wanted a full time robot umpire. 28% wanted full time humans and 61% wanted a challenge system. Based on that they'd landing in the right place.

VegasAg86 said:

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ABS will be used in the All Star game.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/sports/mlb-all-star-game-will-use-robo-ump-challenge-system/

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I watched a few innings of the All Star game and saw no Robo Ump. Did I miss it? Was it received favorably?

sharpdressedman said:

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VegasAg86 said:

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ABS will be used in the All Star game.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/sports/mlb-all-star-game-will-use-robo-ump-challenge-system/

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I watched a few innings of the All Star game and saw no Robo Ump. Did I miss it? Was it received favorably?

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There was a successful challenge in the first inning.

VegasAg86 said:

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sharpdressedman said:

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VegasAg86 said:

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ABS will be used in the All Star game.

https://nypost.com/2025/07/09/sports/mlb-all-star-game-will-use-robo-ump-challenge-system/

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I watched a few innings of the All Star game and saw no Robo Ump. Did I miss it? Was it received favorably?

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There was a successful challenge in the first inning.

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Thank you very much. I did not realize the ump was actually calling balls and strikes, subject to the Robo review for challenges.

Think about it…the ump union must protect jobs!!!

Our grandson had been in AAA ball since last June (2024) and was called up to the big leagues the first of this July. The new ABS defintely rubs the baseball old timers but it's on the way to the majors. This is how it works currently at AAA.

-Each team starts the game with 2 challenges to a umpire called ball or strike.

-The Batting Team. Only the batter can challenge a called strike and must do so within 2 seconds of the call. He does this either by tapping the top of his helmet or tells the ump. If the ABS confirms the ump's call that team loses a challenge. If the ABS shows the pitch to be a ball the strike call is overturned and that team retains it's number of challenges.

-The Fielding Team. Only the pitcher or catcher can challenge a call. Just like the batting team the challenge must be within 2 seconds by tapping the top of their hat/helmet. If the ABS confirms the ump's call the fielding team loses a challenge. If the call is reversed by the ABS the fielding team retains it's number of challenges.

Only a batter or pitcher/catcher can challenge a call. It can not come from the dugout or any other player.

AAA was pretty hard over with the 2 second challenge. Saw a few instances when a batter with a full count started his trot to first after a called third strike. By the time he turned back to challenge the time was up and not allowed. Most players are hesitant to challenge the first called strike or ball unless they're certain of the call.

VegasAg86 said:

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dabo man said:

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They've had it in MiLB for a while. I saw it used last night in a AAA game.

But the last I heard, it still didn't work all that well.

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They use it at the Aviators games and it seems to work very well, to me.

MiLB lets managers challenge, too.

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VegasAg86 said:

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dabo man said:

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They've had it in MiLB for a while. I saw it used last night in a AAA game.

But the last I heard, it still didn't work all that well.

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They use it at the Aviators games and it seems to work very well, to me.

MiLB lets managers challenge, too.

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Our grandson was called up to the Athletics from the Aviators a few weeks ago. He and most of the Aviators like the challenge system. Was in LV in June to watch him play. The LV ball park is fabulous.

Dorks have already ruined the game enough with number crunching analytics and the removal of the unwritten rules of the game. Might as well finish it off by introducing the robo umps.

ensign_beedrill said:

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I don't like the idea of robot umpires but there is the one thing that will slide me into the "in favor" camp:

If they are cute little robots with digital screens that show an emoticon-like face with messages like "ball" or "strike." I am a sucker for a cute robot. Like Roomba.

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You should get out more.