Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Digital Baseball Umpires

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the better-than-instant-replay dept.

Dekaner writes "Wired is running an article on an electronic umpire that tracks each baseball pitch and judges whether it is within the "strike zone" has been installed at 10 major league ballparks in the U.S. The QuesTec system uses several cameras that track each pitch and compare the machine's judgment with that of the umpire standing behind the catcher. At the end of each game it provides a summary of its ratings and compares them with the umpire's calls. In general there is reasonably good agreement. In a recent test the QuesTec system judged that 32.1 percent of pitches were within the "strike zone", while the umpire called 31.4 percent as strikes. However, the umpires association has filed a complaint about the system's unreliability and incapability to replace the human 3-D, real-time view. "

8 of 403 comments (clear)

  1. Cool but... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    How do you kick dirt on a digital umpire?

    1. Re:Cool but... by nicedream · · Score: 4, Funny

      Probably like this:

      Frustrated Schilling smashes QuesTec machine.

  2. Heck... by Craig+Maloney · · Score: 5, Funny

    Replace the batter and the pitcher with robots, and I still won't give a damn about baseball. :)

  3. "incapable?" by noda132 · · Score: 4, Funny

    However, the umpires association has filed a complaint about the system's unreliability and incapability to replace the human 3-D, real-time view.

    ... instead only giving an accurate 3-D, real-time view.

  4. Umpire 2003: A Baseball Odyssee by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Dave.... Dave.... 3 strikes and you're out, Dave".

  5. Re:And the reason... by drinkypoo · · Score: 5, Funny
    I respect the ups more than some athletes. They work hard, get hit with balls, and are highly trained professionals.

    I said the same things in defense of pornstarlets once, but I don't think anyone took me seriously.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  6. Re:Pitchers are unhappy too by generic-man · · Score: 5, Funny

    Some pitchers are really mad about it. Curt Schilling was fined earlier in the season for destroying a QuesTec camera in Bank One Ballpark, his home park in Arizona.

    This, of course, is the same Curt Schilling who gave up two homers to a fellow player he abandoned in "Everquest," allowing said player's character to die.

    --
    For more information, click here.
  7. Re:And the reason... by AssFace · · Score: 5, Funny

    I like your logic - thumbs up!

    $100K pretax dollars is more than I make in pretax dollars.
    Anyone that makes more than me obviously does not deserve it.
    Therefore, they should be replaced with robots.
    QED

    By far the best proof I've ever seen.
    *golf clap*

    --

    There are some odd things afoot now, in the Villa Straylight.