A computerized system that calls balls and strikes is being tested during Major League Baseball spring training exhibition games starting Thursday after four years of experiments in the minor leagues.
Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred is an advocate of the Automated Strike Zone (ASZ) system, which uses Doppler radar to track pitches and determine whether they are balls or strikes.
The system has been in development since 2019 and has been tested in various minor league games, with the goal of increasing the accuracy of calls and reducing the number of disputed plays.
The ASZ system uses a combination of cameras and radar to track the pitch from the moment it leaves the pitcher's hand to the moment it crosses the plate.
The data is then used to determine whether the pitch is a ball or a strike, with the system providing a call in real-time.
The use of robot umpires has been a topic of debate among baseball fans and players, with some arguing that it takes away from the human element of the game.
However, proponents of the system argue that it will increase the accuracy of calls and reduce the number of errors made by human umpires.
The testing of the ASZ system during spring training is a significant step towards its potential implementation in regular season games.
If the system is successful, it could be used in all MLB games, potentially revolutionizing the way the game is played and officiated.
While some may be skeptical about the use of robot umpires, it is clear that the technology has the potential to improve the game and provide a more accurate and efficient way of calling balls and strikes.
As the MLB continues to test and refine the ASZ system, fans will be watching closely to see how it performs and whether it will become a permanent part of the game.