Robot Umps in AAA this year

[Tabe]

Originally Posted by BobC

Maybe some silly questions, but do these ABS systems monitor just a supposed 2D strike zone at the front of the plate or the back of the plate? Or do they have the technology to now make these ABS strike zone monitoring systems cover a 3D cube-like strike zone that includes the strike zone for the plate from the front to the back? Many pitchers have balls that can be moving quite a bit and can start out in the strike zone at the front of the plate, but then fall out at the back end. Or are maybe outside the strike zone at the front of the plate, but then hit it at the back end. To me, the strike zone should be a 3D zone covering the entire plate, front to back.

Also, the strike zone of each batter can, and pretty much always does, vary based on the batter's height and batting stance, no? So how does an ABS monitoring system take this into account for each and every different batter? Would seem to me that every single player that was going to be subject to having balls and strikes called using such an ABS system should have to take some kind of preliminary batting practice session or something, using one of these systems to then monitor and measure their normal stance to determine what their possibly unique strike zone, from top to bottom, is, and somehow have that then programmed into an ABS monitoring system so when they come up to bat the system somehow knows to use the correct strike zone for them. Think Eddie Gaedel. The side-to-side strike zone will never vary as it is determined by the width of the plate, which is fixed for all batters.

Yes, it's 3D.

Yes, it adjusts for batter height & stance.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by Tabe

Yes, it's 3D.

Yes, it adjusts for batter height & stance.

Good to hear then. Anything less doesn't make any sense to me otherwise. Just never read up on exactly what and how these ABS Monitoring Systems operate. Thanks for the heads-up.

[EddieP]

Robo umps worked in the Atlantic League.