Is MLB Umpiring Better, Worse, or The Same?
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by Ron Sen, MD
As the quality of imaging improves, you wonder about the quality of umpiring in Major League Baseball. MLB attempted to standardize umpiring by unifying the leagues' umpiring and by using QuesTek to analyze objectively the ball-strike calls via technology.
The strike zone seems to have grown vertically and shrunk horizonally, although the latter varies. The crew calling the White-Sox/Red Sox series this weekend seems to have hitters strike zones horizontally, but pitchers' zones vertically. They have been consistent.
On the other hand, last night Tim McClelland missed a home run call that landed on the ledge above the Monster seats. Players consider McClelland one of the elite umpires in the game. To their credit, the umps got together and discussed the call. To their detriment, they missed it and Terry Francona got tossed for arguing. Later a Chicago player was called out at second on a phantom tag and today Mike Lowell got similar treatment. Earlier in the week, the blue crew called Troy Glaus out despite a brilliant slide at second to avoid a tag.
Some advance the argument that human error remains an important part of the game of baseball. I'm not a believer in 'full replay' for baseball, but think that a challenge system, like football could be used for home runs (particularly with respect to the fair pole), catch or no catch, and tag or no tag. The same burden of proof used in football could apply. If each manager were allowed one challenge per game, then they would use it cautiously.
My sense is that the umpiring has worsened (neither for or against my team) this season. I'm not suggesting that the human element has no value, only that most fans want the correct calls made. What's your call?
