Automated Strike Zone

[cumberlandreds]

If a pitch is thrown between the knees and the letters, and any part of the ball passes over any part of the plate, then it should be called a strike -- even if the circumference of the ball is tangent to the edge of the plate, which basically gives the pitcher an extra "baseball diameter's width" on each side of the plate.

Now, where the edge of the plate actually is, is not entirely clear. Some people consider the reinforced black edge to be part of the plate, but on a properly manicured field the black is completely buried and actually only the white part (17" wide) is showing, level with the ground.

I was always told that the black was not part of the plate. Whether that was really true or not I don't know?

[westofyou]

I was always told that the black was not part of the plate. Whether that was really true or not I don't know?

I always heard it's part of the plate.

The plate is a the physical item that has two sides that align with first and third, until 1899 the plate could be round, for years it was marble and could get jagged, folks avoided sliding into it.

Because it is a physical item the edge would have to be considered part of the plate, the black part was added years after the initial adoption, the reason why was because it provides the pitcher with a clear view from the mound where the plate no longer is in play. It's a lot like in soccer the ball is not out of bounds until the full ball is over the line, which is considered part of the field of play whereas in football the line contains the field of play and touching it places a player out of the field of play (and subjected to another battery of rules)

[Roy Tucker]

I think it will be like the DH in the NL. We’ll wonder why they didn’t do it sooner.

[Big Klu]

I was always told that the black was not part of the plate. Whether that was really true or not I don't know?

I always heard it's part of the plate.

The plate is a the physical item that has two sides that align with first and third, until 1899 the plate could be round, for years it was marble and could get jagged, folks avoided sliding into it.

Because it is a physical item the edge would have to be considered part of the plate, the black part was added years after the initial adoption, the reason why was because it provides the pitcher with a clear view from the mound where the plate no longer is in play. It's a lot like in soccer the ball is not out of bounds until the full ball is over the line, which is considered part of the field of play whereas in football the line contains the field of play and touching it places a player out of the field of play (and subjected to another battery of rules)

This is why I mentioned that there is some dispute as to where the edge of the plate actually is. The beveled black part was added to delineate the edge and make it clearer for the pitcher to see, and it is clearly physically part of the plate. But the rulebook also states that the plate is 17" wide, which is the exact width of the white part. Also, on many well-manicured fields, the black part is nearly buried, and the white part is flush with the ground. Often, the white part is periodically painted as well, to maintain its bright appearance (as it can't be swapped out for fresh bags like the other bases).

[Z-Fly]

I've never understood why people fight for the human call over the right call. Give me the right call every time. I don't care where it comes from.

[sdwagers]

I was always told that the black was not part of the plate. Whether that was really true or not I don't know?

When I umpired - I called "on the black"

https://www.mlb.com/glossary/idioms/painting-the-black

[Big Klu]

I think it will be like the DH in the NL. We’ll wonder why they didn’t do it sooner.

I [bleep]ing despise the DH.

[Roy Tucker]

From https://theathletic.com/news/mlb-aut...vTjB98D/?amp=1

MLB provided a reference sheet to teams explaining how the ABS works. The strike zone extends 19 inches wide at the middle point of home plate, including an inch off either edge (home plate is 17 inches wide). The top and bottom edges of the strike zone are based on specific percentages of the batter's height. The size of the automated zone, MLB said, is similar to the major-league zone.

Importantly, though, if any part of the ball even nicks the zone, the pitch is called a strike.

"I wish there was more of, you have to have X percentage of the ball that crosses the zone for it to be a strike," Bryant said. "Because the ones that just nick the corner, that's the gray area. As a pitcher you're like, 'maybe it's a strike?' And as a hitter you're like, 'I don't know either.'"

[sdwagers]

I [bleep]ing despise the DH.

[Sea Ray]

From https://theathletic.com/news/mlb-aut...vTjB98D/?amp=1

I think such a strike zone is too big and will further stifle offense. They need to reduce that inside/outside

[RFS62]

I was always told that the black was not part of the plate. Whether that was really true or not I don't know?

"Painting the black" is a pretty old baseball phrase. I always considered the black as in the zone.

[RFS62]

I've been in favor of this for a long time.

In a couple of years, it will be as well accepted as it is in tennis.

[Roy Tucker]

I think such a strike zone is too big and will further stifle offense. They need to reduce that inside/outside

Don’t shoot the messenger. Just documenting what the state of the art is. I’m sure this is why MLB is doing a trial run to work out the kinks. Proof of concept.

But it does seem like the strike zone would be bigger if just an eyelash of the ball touches the strike zone, then it’s a strike. I can understand that being controversial. But it is consistent.

[Redhook]

But it does seem like the strike zone would be bigger if just an eyelash of the ball touches the strike zone, then it’s a strike. I can understand that being controversial. But it is consistent.

If it’s consistent, the best hitters in the world will adjust accordingly. It may seem like it favors the pitchers slightly, but in the end, I think an automated zone helps the hitters more overall. When the strike zone is all over the place, the pitchers have a huge advantage.

[Bourgeois Zee]

If it’s consistent, the best hitters in the world will adjust accordingly. It may seem like it favors the pitchers slightly, but in the end, I think an automated zone helps the hitters more overall. When the strike zone is all over the place, the pitchers have a huge advantage.

If it's automated, they can always change the parameters.

Getting it figured out is the real genius. After that, it's just changing the math a little. (Or at least that's what I was told years ago from a mechanical engineer.)