Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy Tucker
Then we start getting into the harder stuff. We need this system to be able to detect where the strike zone is on a batter by batter, pitch by pitch basis. Each batter is different and can adjust his stance on a pitch by pitch basis. So we need to be able to accommodate that. I think that crosses off any pre-configuration of a strike zone for a batter, e.g. before a season or a game, the batters strike zone is measured and he is stuck with that for that game, series, month, or season. It needs to be done on each pitch in real time.
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Thoughtful post, I wanted to concentrate on this point though, because this is where I disagree. You're not growing or shrinking when you go to the plate. If a batter wants to crouch himself out of being able to reach a high strike that strikes me as his problem. In fact, an ever-shifting strike zone strikes me as one of the fundamental flaws with the current system. Umps are constantly making imprecise perceptual adjustments.
The top and bottom of a given hitter's strike zone should be hardwired. Hitters will learn their zones and, I suspect, ultimately come to appreciated the consistency. The pre-configured zone adds stability and reliability. Constant recalibration strikes as fairly glaring design flaw.