Baseball

Wounded Bear

(64,732 posts)

13. They are trained to look over the inside shoulder of the catcher...

Tue Mar 3, 2026, 11:57 PM

Mar 2026

so if the catcher sets up toward the inside part of the plate, the ump's angle to see the plate gets forced to the side significantly. They are always a little soft on the outside pitches anyway, and the position of the catcher can make it more difficult for them.

They are also looking down toward the plate, which can distort their angle of vision on the top/bottom of the zone, especially on tall or shorter batters.

The automated system helps correct these built in error opportunities. Statistically, the umps are actually pretty accurate given the challenges of the job, overall, but I'm still a fan of the challenge system.

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Diamond_Dog

21 replies

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Highlight:

I have watched several MLB preseason games so far and [View all] Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 OP

Me too Auggie Mar 2026 #1

Was watching the Guards-Dodgers game this afternoon Auggie Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 #2

Wow. I was listening on radio ... Auggie Mar 2026 #5

Yes, you're right, Auggie, the pitch I mentioned was in the 1st inning. Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 #6

They used it last year in pre-season as well. I like it, too... Wounded Bear Mar 2026 #3

I was amazed at how far off some calls the umps made were! Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 #8

They are trained to look over the inside shoulder of the catcher... Wounded Bear Mar 2026 #13

I like it too Brother Buzz Mar 2026 #4

Yes it is very fast! Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 #9

Count me in. True Dough Mar 2026 #7

That's a good question! Diamond_Dog Mar 2026 #10

Umpires are MLB's official representation on the field ... Auggie Mar 2026 #11

There will always be live umpires on the field, at least in our lifetimes...nt Wounded Bear Mar 2026 #14

I don't like it, but I didn't like the pitch or batters clocks Bristlecone Mar 2026 #12

Apparently a whole lot of fans are getting behind the ABS challenge True Dough Mar 29 #15

Another game where the ump looks horrible True Dough Mar 31 #16

Here's a game from today where ABS proved pivotal... True Dough Apr 26 #17

The ABS system was missing at the Diamondbacks/Padres series in Mexico City Brother Buzz Apr 26 #18

I found this - Diamond_Dog Apr 26 #19

Thanks. They could have hauled the 12 Hawk-Eye cameras to Mexico City Brother Buzz Apr 26 #20

This message was self-deleted by its author jfz9580m May 17 #21