[NU Sports] Strike zones

[cherron604 at aol.com]

MLB does have something called QuesTec - I don't know alot of the tech details, but I know it is intended to standardize the strike zone, and is used to evaluate umpires.
 
I would argue that more important than a standardized strike zone is a consistent one, i.e. a strike in the first inning will still be called the same way in the eighth inning.
 
I have heard that MLB umpires hate it, and I remember that Mark Buehrle blamed it (well, blamed inconsistent stike zones between parks with QuesTec (like US Cellular in Chicago) and non-QuesTec parks) for some of his pitching woes this season.
 
Chuck Herron   Tech '85 
 
 
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: tbng at comcast.net
To: nwu-sports at romaine.tssi.com
Sent: Mon, 25 Sep 2006 8:51 PM
Subject: [NU Sports] Strike zones


Technology could resolve the problem of calling strikes, although I'm loathe to say it. It would be simple - theoretically - to put sensors around the edge of the plate or the entire plate with an invisible beam that could detect whether the ball crossed over any part of the plate. The ump could have an earpiece and the sensor could emit a beep if the ball crosses the plate. You could also put height data into the computer and have it call height by keying in the player's unique number. I hate the idea as I write it, but it is possible. One of you EE majors work on that. Just don't look to your Little League to install it at the cost of umpteen millions. BTW, the Little League World Series umpires were dreadful at calling balls and strikes. Don't say they are amateurs because they are not. Those guys work and study for years before they make it to Williamsport. Each man has thousands of games under his belt at all levels of play.  
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