[DC 86]

Do you believe the umpire couldn’t see the pitch but looked to see where the glove was? 

I don't just believe it, every front office has analyzed video and quantified pitches that were outside the strike zone but called strikes after the catcher framed the pitch to fool the umpire., and found that individual catchers' framing ability is relatively consistent year to year, and that it has a material impact over the course of the year. It was the reason why the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin to what was perceived to be an exorbitant contract at the time; other clubs took notice and subsequently framing has become an important part of how clubs estimate catcher value. There are also numerous public analyses and articles on the subject. It's real, if anything its impact is underestimated although it has diminished slightly as umpires have become more aware.

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The umps have done it to themselves by not unifying on a zone. The old arm pit to top of knee worked.

It did.  But if they used that as a zone today, no one would hit above .220.  Players bristle if a strike is called on a pitch above the belt.  With launch angles being the rage, and pitchers casually throwing 95 plus, a fastball at the armpits is darn near unhittable (and if hit, a pop up).

OTOH, it might cause hitters to adjust, level swings a bit and bring back contact hitters. 

I’m against robot umps.  The human element is part of the game. And I say that despite the home plate ump screwing Bryant and the Giants on two pitches in the 4th inning of game 5.  Should’ve been first and second, no outs.  With an at the time a tad shaky Urias on the mound. Still pisses me off…..

Too many umps base their call on whether the pitch hits at or near the target, as opposed to just calling the zone. Heck, Greg Maddox lived 4 inches off the outside corner.  Course, he could put the ball in a tin cup 9 out of 10 times. Pitched a complete game  on 77 pitches once.  Today that gets pitchers through about 4 innings…..

Very true on all counts, except that I strongly disagree about umpires being part of the human element. What makes sports fascinating is to observe how players deal with pressure, with adversity, with different game situations that require quick thinking, etc. Umpires inserting randomness to the point of a game not being decided by the players themselves is a human element that I can do without. Armando Gallaraga deprived of a perfect game or the Cardinals possibly deprived of a World Series by Don Denkinger undermines the game. An umpire inserting an element of random chance and affecting the outcome of the game doesn't enhance my enjoyment, in fact it detracts from it even if it helps my team. The real human element is awesome, but umpires should be robotic (either literally or figuratively.)

[DC 86]

Do you believe the umpire couldn’t see the pitch but looked to see where the glove was? 

I don't just believe it, every front office has analyzed video and quantified pitches that were outside the strike zone but called strikes after the catcher framed the pitch to fool the umpire., and found that individual catchers' framing ability is relatively consistent year to year, and that it has a material impact over the course of the year. It was the reason why the Blue Jays signed Russell Martin to what was perceived to be an exorbitant contract at the time; other clubs took notice and subsequently framing has become an important part of how clubs estimate catcher value. There are also numerous public analyses and articles on the subject. It's real, if anything its impact is underestimated although it has diminished slightly as umpires have become more aware.

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The umps have done it to themselves by not unifying on a zone. The old arm pit to top of knee worked.

It did.  But if they used that as a zone today, no one would hit above .220.  Players bristle if a strike is called on a pitch above the belt.  With launch angles being the rage, and pitchers casually throwing 95 plus, a fastball at the armpits is darn near unhittable (and if hit, a pop up).

OTOH, it might cause hitters to adjust, level swings a bit and bring back contact hitters. 

I’m against robot umps.  The human element is part of the game. And I say that despite the home plate ump screwing Bryant and the Giants on two pitches in the 4th inning of game 5.  Should’ve been first and second, no outs.  With an at the time a tad shaky Urias on the mound. Still pisses me off…..

Too many umps base their call on whether the pitch hits at or near the target, as opposed to just calling the zone. Heck, Greg Maddox lived 4 inches off the outside corner.  Course, he could put the ball in a tin cup 9 out of 10 times. Pitched a complete game  on 77 pitches once.  Today that gets pitchers through about 4 innings…..

Very true on all counts, except that I strongly disagree about umpires being part of the human element. What makes sports fascinating is to observe how players deal with pressure, with adversity, with different game situations that require quick thinking, etc. Umpires inserting randomness to the point of a game not being decided by the players themselves is a human element that I can do without. Armando Gallaraga deprived of a perfect game or the Cardinals possibly deprived of a World Series by Don Denkinger undermines the game. An umpire inserting an element of random chance and affecting the outcome of the game doesn't enhance my enjoyment, in fact it detracts from it even if it helps my team. The real human element is awesome, but umpires should be robotic (either literally or figuratively.)