As MLB moves toward using 'robot umpire,' getting strike/ball calls right is the goal
Watch any Cubs game, any White Sox game, any major-league game for that matter.
At some point - more likely many points - the broadcasters are going to bark at the home-plate umpire for messing up a call.
Former Sox TV voice Ken "Hawk" Harrelson was notorious for going after umps for their strike zone judgments.
As announcers sound off or simply seethe, TV replays go right to the strike zone graphic box and viewers are likely left wondering if there's a better way to get calls right.
MLB believes there is.
Dating back to 2019, the ABS (Automated Balls and Strikes) system has been tested in the minor leagues and Arizona Fall League.
The "robot umpire" is actually a 3-D Doppler radar that analyzes each pitch and the early reviews have been positive.
On a rehab assignment with Class AAA Albuquerque last season, former Cubs star Kris Bryant experienced the ABS system.
"I'm not totally against it," the Rockies outfielder told The Athletic. "Umpires want to get the calls right. They're not out there trying to influence the game one way or the other. If they have a tool at their advantage to get every call right, that's great."
The ABS system has been tested in two ways during lower level games.
The first was it called every ball and strike, completely removing the responsibility from the home-plate umpire. The second test was using ABS in a challenge system.
Going completely robot is unlikely when the ABS system does reach the major leagues in the not too distant future.
"I like the idea of a challenge system," said Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.
Under the challenge system, the home-plate ump calls balls and strikes as usual. Each teams gets three challenges per game, which must be immediately made by the hitter or pitcher/catcher.
"I don't know what's going to happen," Hoyer said. "Whatever they end up doing, I think it will be more accurate. Listen, there are huge calls in games, calls that swing games, based on an inch and a half, an inch. That's the name of our game.
"Ultimately, I want to get those right. I'm definitely in favor of accuracy."
Cubs manager David Ross feels the same way.
"I don't think I ever want to lose the human interaction," Ross said. "We don't play a perfect game. I don't want to treat it like a video game and have everything have to be perfect. But I do believe players, great players especially, understand the strike zone on a level nobody can fathom and the human element does make for some mistakes at times.
"But I've never been a part of what an electronic strike zone atmosphere is and how that runs. I've never been a part of that, so it would be naive for me to speak on that. But umpires are very important in our game, good and bad. I've done my fair share of yelling at them but they're doing the best they can, I know that."