Why we need computers calling balls and strikes

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

There is a guy watching the camera who sets it before each at bat based on the batters stance. Why would it be more difficult to click a mouse twice before each pitch when he already does it at the start of every at bat?

When I do my banking online is that just me clicking a mouse button on a web page too?

[kaldaniels]

You can almost tell by the posts on here who has real world experience implementing major systems/programs.

It is never as easy as flipping a switch on. There are probably hundreds of questions that need to be addressed and to pretend they don't exist is asking for trouble.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by Caveman Techie

The system was put in place to help judge umpires on their balls and strike calls. So it's a good enough technology to judge umpires, but not good enough to determine if the ball was a strike or not? That argument just seems very weak to me. It was designed SPECIFICALLY to call balls and strikes, now we just need to do it.

No, that's not true. It was not designed specifically for that. They already had a system designed "specifically" for calling balls and strikes -- QuesTech. This system was designed to incorporate visual data online, help statistical analysis as well as grade umpires. It was designed for a lot of uses. not "specifically" for one. Still, the system was meant for grading umpires after the fact, not to be relied upon to call the game live. There are a lot of things that are not "proven" as to how that would work if suddenly the system is being used to specifically dictate the game.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by westofyou

When I do my banking online is that just me clicking a mouse button on a web page too?

As far as your end goes, absolutely.

Look, I know what you are trying to say about how the system needs to be redone in order to accommodate the new setting of the strikezone before each pitch since it currently doesn't. Yes, it is something that would need to be added. Sportsvision/MLBAM has added about 15 new parameters since the system was first implemented. They aren't going to have trouble taking something they already do and setting it up so they can just do it more often. This is one of the best technology companies in the world. It isn't like they need to recode the entire system from scratch.

[Wonderful Monds]

If they need a physical point of reference to establish the height of the strike zone, couldn't they just implement a very small sensor as a standard required part of the uniform.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

If they need a physical point of reference to establish the height of the strike zone, couldn't they just implement a very small sensor as a standard required part of the uniform.

Slippery slope.

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Slippery slope.

To what? I don't even understand what the argument against that could possibly be.

[Roy Tucker]

The batter knows its there and pulls his shirt down to alter the strike zone.
Or it gets disabled sliding into a base.
Or it just fails for a pitch.

Rule 37 of projects is "if something can go wrong, it will".
Rule 22 is the more moving pparts you have, the bigger the chance is something wil break.

[AtomicDumpling]

To sum up the thread: If MLB ever decides they want to automate the ball/strike calls there is already technology available that can do the job with extreme accuracy. Of course they would have to do some testing and some minor tweaking of the system, but a system could be put in place very quickly if MLB decides to make the switch.

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Roy Tucker

The batter knows its there and pulls his shirt down to alter the strike zone.
Or it gets disabled sliding into a base.
Or it just fails for a pitch.

Rule 37 of projects is "if something can go wrong, it will".
Rule 22 is the more moving pparts you have, the bigger the chance is something wil break.

nah... it's something like this

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by AtomicDumpling

To sum up the thread: If MLB ever decides they want to automate the ball/strike calls there is already technology available that can do the job with extreme accuracy. Of course they would have to do some testing and some minor tweaking of the system, but a system could be put in place very quickly if MLB decides to make the switch.

People like you are who get people like me into death-march projects.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by westofyou

nah... it's something like this

[Caveman Techie]

Originally Posted by edabbs44

Well for you old foggies I guess this would be appropriate then. http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.50021...83821&pid=15.1

[westofyou]

Originally Posted by Caveman Techie

Well for you old foggies I guess this would be appropriate then. http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.50021...83821&pid=15.1

Old fogies.

With job titles like "Systems Analyst"

[Roy Tucker]

Originally Posted by Caveman Techie

Well for you old foggies I guess this would be appropriate then. http://ts2.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.50021...83821&pid=15.1

Yeah, what do I know. I don't know anything.