Hey there! Let’s talk about an interesting topic in baseball this season: robot umpires. From the Albuquerque Isotopes to the Charlotte Knights, various teams are implementing robot umpires behind home plate. However, don’t expect to see a robot resembling C-3PO or R2-D2. These robots are more like black boxes, hidden in plain sight. They are described as glossy screens, resembling turned-off televisions or unsubtle security cameras by Sports Illustrated.
So, how do these robot umpires improve the game? Umpires wear earpieces connected to smartphones in baseball parks with the Automated Ball-Strike system (ABS), also known as the “automated strike zone”. The robots use radar technology to track pitches and feed the umpire a call, either “strike” or “ball”. The umpire then relays the call to the players and the crowd. The ABS ensures a reliable and precise strike zone, following the rule book. The robots identify the ball’s location, record it, and make the call. To overcome battery life limitations, umpires use earpieces instead of air pods. If necessary, umpires can override the robot’s call. This technological advancement does not impact the game’s pace and provides a seamless experience for fans.
Robot umpires made their debut in professional baseball during the all-star game in July 2019 in the independent Atlantic League. Despite some complaints about how the system called breaking balls, the Arizona Fall League also utilized robot umpires. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, robot umpires didn’t appear again until the 2021 season. They were used in eight out of nine Low-A Southeast League games.
MLB officials believe that robot umpires have the potential to increase action on the basepaths, generate more balls in play, improve the pace and duration of games, and reduce player injuries. But what about the strike zone theory discussed by legendary hitter Ted Williams? He believed that batters have their strike zone, pitchers have their effective zones, and umpires have their own defined by the rule book and their consistency. With the introduction of robot umpires, will this theory of the strike zone change?
In conclusion, robot umpires are revolutionizing the game of baseball. They operate behind the scenes, hidden in plain sight, providing reliable calls and maintaining the integrity of the game. It will be fascinating to see how the use of robot umpires evolves and the impact they have on the future of baseball.