Mitch Trzeciak, an umpire who worked Triple-A in 2025, took up position behind home plate for a Grapefruit League matchup between the Pirates and Red Sox, and let’s say it could have gone better.
The troubles for Trzeciak began early. With one out in the first inning, Pittsburgh’s Carmen Mlodzinski threw what looked like a first-pitch strike to Boston’s Trevor Story. Trzeciak saw it differently and called it a ball. Pirates catcher Endy Rodriguez challenged the call.
The ABS review showed the pitch was clearly a strike. That was also strike one against Trzeciak. It would get worse, however, as Trzeciak would get challenged a total of three times in the first two innings and lose all of them.
Listen - y'all know I am first and foremost a baseball fan above all else, but ya also gotta know I'm not convinced computerized ball & strike calling is a good idea. There's too many variables to be taken in to those calls, and besides, if you can't hate the Umps (and the Red Sox), where's the fun in getting pissed at a computer? Juss' sayin'...
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Instant replay and challenges are ruining sports.
ReplyDeleteThe human eye is no match for electronics In the interest of fairness it should be all computerized. What if it was YOU at bat, bottom of the ninth, tied game, bases loaded, 3-2 and the next pitch was definitely a ball but the ump calls strike 3 and you're out. Game over and so is your status. You get sent to farm league, your pay is cut, your wife leaves you, your dog won't play fetch anymore, your kids have to change schools, your mechanic won't fix your car, & people stare everywhere you go.
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