Jun 29, 2015; Baltimore, MD, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Carlos Corporan (3) talks with home plate umpire John Hirschbeck (right) during the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Mandatory Credit: Evan Habeeb-USA TODAY Sports
Tuesday night marked a historical moment for professional baseball when the San Rafael Pacifics took on the Vallejo Admirals in Marin County. A technology system was implemented into the Minor League game that ruled on the validity of each pitch, taking the role of the home plate umpire.
The technology comprised of three cameras with built-in tracking systems connected to a computer, which would determine a ball or strike on each pitch. Two cameras were mounted at the upper corner of the grandstands behind the plate and the other was placed in center field.
Each tracking camera records the pitch from the time it leaves the pitcher’s hand until it crosses the plate, and then it sends that information to the tracking system to calculate and store the digital record of the pitch – including speed, location, and trajectory.
The technology is known as PITCHf/x and was created by a company called Sportvision who specialize in technology systems that aim to minimize human error when it comes to regulating a sporting match.
The main difference the technology boasts, that was quite noticeable, was the change in accuracy. If this technology makes its way to the MLB, players and fans can trust that every call is as accurate and consistent as possible.
Former Oakland A’s player and current baseball analyst, Eric Bynes, said “…if we have a chance to get it right, if we have a chance to get a pitch every time, why would we not?” according to Ars Technica.
Consistency in sports umpiring or refereeing is something that everyone would like to see, but the fact is that umpires are just as human as the players and all have their differences. Human error is something that we have learned to live with, but when an opportunity such as this presents itself, it would be insane to say no.
“I’m not looking to eliminate any umpires, not one. If anything, we’re essentially going to add an umpire,” Byrnes noted. Accordingly, there were still two standard umpires on the field and another behind the plate, which is standard for this particular minor league match.
A similar form of technology has recently made its way into Australian Rules Football – much the same as the soccer technology used in the most recent World Cup – that has the potential to take the goal umpire’s place by utilizing goal-line technology.
Having one system that promotes exactly the same accuracy and consistency for every match is something that baseball around the world and of course the MLB could benefit greatly from.
Vallejo Admirals third baseman, Joe Wong, gave Ars a player’s perspective on the new system. “I feel like it speeds the game up more, it gets the hitters to swing at more pitches,” he said. “It’s good for the game. Just being more accurate and having better calls is going to help us more.”
This technology will undoubtedly improve the game of baseball and it’s umpiring, and would go a long way in boosting the performance value of the MLB. With the way that all sports are progressing into the tech age, we think it will only be a matter of time.
