Robo Umps coming to a AAA park near you in 2023

[Squirrel]

This will be interesting to follow this summer. It’s the next step toward implementation in the majors.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/35434317/sources-all-aaa-parks-use-electronic-strike-zone-23

[VivaBomboRivera!]

"The Automatic Balls and Strikes system, commonly referred to as ABS, will be deployed in two different ways. Half of the Class AAA games will be played with all of the calls determined by an electronic strike zone, and the other half will be played with an ABS challenge system similar to that used in professional tennis."

 

Smart

[AlwaysinModeration]

About damned time

[Doctor Gast]

It can't come fast enough.

[Brad.dahlen]

This is honestly happening a little faster than I expected. Have to imagine it will be in majors in the next couple of years. Perhaps even 2024.

[Beast]

The is how the Terminator began.

[theBOMisthebomb]

"Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to make the world's first bionic umpire."

[Trov]

I imagine when it comes to majors it will start with the ABS system with the challenges for a period of time, while they shift the minors into full robo umps.  The reason, as point out in article, is it would be too dynamic of shift in catching to quickly. Catchers have been coached to how to frame and what not, but then framing will be pointless.  Then the most important aspect of being catcher will be throwing out runners, but I still think calling a game and actually setting up targets for pitcher will still have importance. 

I can see with the challenge system games ending on overturning of call from ump.  I also see no way will teams use up challenges early on, unless it is just terrible call, because good challenge retains it.  I wonder if dugouts will have chance to look at video before they tell someone to challenge.  I also, wonder if a hitter will just call for without the bench tell him to in some cases.  I could see some guys so mad they just challenge what they think is bad call.

I know one of the biggest things they are working on in minors is how the robo ump is calling the pitches.  There was some really odd looking pitches being called strikes that looked way out of the zone to the eye.  That is the main reason we will see delay to MLB level is they want to one, let the minor league guys get used to it, similar to pitch clock, and two, get all the bugs out, so fans do not reject it. 

[MN_ExPat]

7 hours ago, Beast said:

The is how the Terminator began.

Amen....

[Parfigliano]

13 hours ago, VivaBomboRivera! said:

"The Automatic Balls and Strikes system, commonly referred to as ABS, will be deployed in two different ways. Half of the Class AAA games will be played with all of the calls determined by an electronic strike zone, and the other half will be played with an ABS challenge system similar to that used in professional tennis."

 

Smart

Clean up a lot of trash ball and strike calls by canning CB Buckner.

[nicksaviking]

15 hours ago, Brad.dahlen said:

This is honestly happening a little faster than I expected. Have to imagine it will be in majors in the next couple of years. Perhaps even 2024.

Let’s do 2026 since we just paid a new catcher to steal strikes from those snooty human umps.

[Danchat]

Didn’t AAA have a few teams use the Robo ump last year?

[Squirrel]

1 minute ago, Danchat said:

Didn’t AAA have a few teams use the Robo ump last year?

I’m not sure, but this will now be every AAA team

[Ex-Iowegian]

I guess I just wasn't made for these times….