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Digital Baseball Umpires
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. "
Actually, I read it as "We don't want it to replace our jobs"
The fact that people are COMPLAINING that there is a 0.7%(!!) margin between the accuracy of machines to humans is insane! I'd be congratulating my umpires for being so accurate!
If anything, I think it'd be an argument on why to KEEP umpires.
I think it proves the Umps are pretty damn accurate at their jobs. To be that accurate takes quite a bit of skill.
I respect the ups more than some athletes. They work hard, get hit with balls, and are highly trained professionals.
Don't go off on umps for making decent money $100K a year is still middle class, they have to travel all over the damn country, and work pretty damn hard too.
The computer may be able to see strikes more accuratly, but they could never replace the umps for the interp of rules, calling out players at base, etc...
what? what I thought we were in the trust tree in the nest, were we not?
I would strongly disagree that there is an absurd invariance in strike zones across different home plate umpires. If anything, the fact that there is a little over 1% difference in the machine and the actual human strike zone recognition proves this point. In general, umpires working in MLB have worked very hard through A, AA, AAA leagues to get where they are, and they are there for a reason.
From a baseball purist standpoint, MLB has become a Home Run Derby of sorts, but that has VERY little to do with strike zone, and much more to do with performance enhancing drugs, different composition used in the actual ball, expansion thinning out pitching talent, and the general change in the makeup of ballparks (read: home run alleys as found in PacBell Park, and the new Great American Ballpark in Cinncinati).
Personally, and I believe many die-hard baseball fans feel similarly, this new machine ruins the game. Pitching and hitting are arts, and the ability of a good pitcher to locate pitches just on the corners is something that is special to the game, and makes a great pitcher amazing. This machine has served it's purpose: it has proven that the Umpires are doing a very good job dealing with a highly subjective condition. Leave the subjectivity to the humans, and the web serving to the machines.
It's only when we've lost everything, that we are free to do anything...
First, the "fat men" standing behind the plate are a dwindling minority in MLB. It takes a lot of hustle to be in the correct position to make a call, especially at third base or in the outfield.
Second, his job is physically dangerous. Why do you think the plate man wears so much protective equipment? Let's see how well you recover from a 90+ mph fastball between the eyes, off the inside of your knee, or (God forbid) a tipped ball that gets by the catcher and goes right off your nuts. Broken bones are a fact of life for any umpire with a full schedule of high-level ball.
Third, his job is mentally and techincally demanding. He must make an immediate ruling on action that occurs in a fraction of a second, and is expected to get it right every time by the fans sitting in the stands or in the their air-conditioned homes, who, btw, also have the benefit of slo-mo instant replay from multiple camera angles. They also must have a complete mastery of probably the most convoluted and counter-intuitive set rules for any major sport.
And just for fun, he gets to be the target of the wrath of the fans for every call that doesn't go their way.
The average MLB umpire does between 130-160 games a year, not counting spring training or postseason assignments. All those games require travel, which puts a huge burden on their families. Most of them spend the offseason training for the regular season, just like all the other athletes. And all of this is after they've spent several years working their way up through the minors, making $1700/month, traveling by bus, and staying in cheap motels nine months out of the year.
Hmmm, I guess paying $300k to someone who has over 15 years experience at their physically, mentally and emotionally challenging job just wouldn't be fair to everyone else.
Now, as far as QuesTec goes, I think it is a usefull tool for evaluating umpire performance, but nothing beyond that.