Home plate umpire needs to face disciplinary actions from MLB. Inexcusable for a major league umpire to miss that many blatant ball/strike calls. Most of those called strikes weren’t even close to the zone.

 

Marty Foster was the home plate umpire.

Said it earlier in the week, and I'll say it again. I'm all for automated ball-strike calls. Home plate umpire just bent the Reds over and stuck it to them after Winker's ejection.

 

I agree with you on the ump, his zone was rather large all day. That being said, and I don't belong to the video game generation, I'm never going to favor going to auto balls/strikes. I think if the game goes in that direction then all players need to have the same bat, same ball, same glove for that position, etc. And we know that ain't gonna happen. I just wouldn't like taking the human element out of the game and of course baseball is a game of adjustments. Generally you can figure out an ump's strike zone after first or second at bat. However, IMO that last strike call was a "back at ya" to the Redlegs and Bell.

Edited May 2, 20197 yr by OlDog75

Home plate umpire needs to face disciplinary actions from MLB. Inexcusable for a major league umpire to miss that many blatant ball/strike calls. Most of those called strikes weren’t even close to the zone.

 

First, I'm old school and I cannot stand that doggone strike zone box constantly on the screen. I want to watch a baseball game not a video game. Plus, is that graphic close to the actual strike zone? Who knows. As far as disciplinary action, I don't know. That last strike call to end the game was not a good one and maybe MLB might look at that but I'm sure nothing would come of it. Tough to waste such a well pitched game by the Redlegs staff. I think the Reds need Jobu in their clubhouse for a while.

Edited May 2, 20197 yr by OlDog75

Turned it around every single season, uhh, might want to recheck last year’s stats.

 

I am pretty sure I already addressed last years stats twice already, all you simply need to do is read it. However, to save you the time of going back and looking at the last two previous post in the last 2 hours. Votto was 3rd in all of baseball last year in OBP. Meaning he was doing what a hitter is suppose to do, and that is not getting out. He was 3rd best in baseball at doing that. Then he was in the top 40 of all players in baseball in batting average and OPS. So yeah his slow starts has always ended up being a good season by the end of the year. Was it great like most of his years, no. Was it still a good season, and not bad like you all claim, no. The majority of players in baseball would take the year he had last year still.

I agree with you on the ump, his zone was rather large all day. That being said, and I don't belong to the video game generation, I'm never going to favor going to auto balls/strikes. I think if the game goes in that direction then all players need to have the same bat, same ball, same glove for that position, etc. And we know that ain't gonna happen. I just wouldn't like taking the human element out of the game and of course baseball is a game of adjustments. Generally you can figure out an ump's strike zone after first or second at bat. Of course that last strike call I believe was a "back at ya" to the Redlegs and Bell.

 

I understand. I was once at that point, too. But I've seen too many pitches that are one way, called the other. You'll have balls low in the zone called strikes, and high strikes called balls. And pitches like today, where the outside pitch is missed time and time again. The other one that I see frequently, is where the catcher sets up in one spot (let's say, outside), and the pitcher misses "wildly" but still ends up well inside the strike zone...that's called a ball (presumably because the pitcher missed his spot).

 

I think another contributing factor is that pitchers are throwing harder, and some, with some crazy movement on it. It's got to be harder envisioning where an outside pitch actually is when it's 98+ mph, than it is when it's 90 mph.

 

Look, I know umpires are (or should be) trying their best. But, if we've got technology that can improve the game itself...then, why not use it? There's no reason why you can't enforce the strike zone, by the book, without having biases for/against the pitcher or batter. The strike should change from batter to batter (depending on their height), and I don't know that it really does today.

 

And lastly, as far as baseball being a game of adjustments...the last time I checked, the score was kept between the two teams. It didn't include the umpires. You should have to adjust to what your opponent is doing...not to what the officials are calling.

And lastly, as far as baseball being a game of adjustments...the last time I checked, the score was kept between the two teams. It didn't include the umpires. You should have to adjust to what your opponent is doing...not to what the officials are calling.

 

Yup, it's all inclusive in the adjustments area in my opinion.

The graphic isn’t “close” to what the strike zone is, it is precisely what the strike zone is.

 

Makes no sense to not take an easy step to improve the game drastically IMO.

The graphic isn’t “close” to what the strike zone is, it is precisely what the strike zone is.

 

Makes no sense to not take an easy step to improve the game drastically IMO.

 

Hopefully the minor league test on called balls/strikes works out well and we see it in the majors sooner than later.

The graphic isn’t “close” to what the strike zone is, it is precisely what the strike zone is.

 

Makes no sense to not take an easy step to improve the game drastically IMO.

 

Hopefully the minor league test on called balls/strikes works out well and we see it in the majors sooner than later.

 

Sad day IMO when that particular human element is eliminated from the game. Not trying to argue with you guys, just expressing an opinion.

Sad day IMO when that human element is eliminated from the game. Not trying to argue with you guys, just expressing an opinion.

I won't miss it as far as Umpiring goes. The Human element has no place in officiating, in my opinion. We just need games called correctly and decided by the only human element that matters, the players.

I am pretty sure I already addressed last years stats twice already, all you simply need to do is read it. However, to save you the time of going back and looking at the last two previous post in the last 2 hours. Votto was 3rd in all of baseball last year in OBP. Meaning he was doing what a hitter is suppose to do, and that is not getting out. He was 3rd best in baseball at doing that. Then he was in the top 40 of all players in baseball in batting average and OPS. So yeah his slow starts has always ended up being a good season by the end of the year. Was it great like most of his years, no. Was it still a good season, and not bad like you all claim, no. The majority of players in baseball would take the year he had last year still.

 

You keep trying to justify his last and worst year of hos career with OBP. You never mention AVG. HR or RBI'S. The three best offense catories in Baseball. I am sure that when the Reds signed him for that money, they said we want you to league the league in OBP every year. Lead off would be his ideal batting spot at this stage of his career but this year he is striking out much more and walking much less. First base has always been a power position in baseball not an on base position.

The most important aspect of a major league hitter is their ability to not make outs. You only get 27 of them a game. Joey Votto has excelled at that at a historic rate throughout his career. HRs, RBIs, etc., I hear those stats thrown around and I immediately think the two most irrelevant stats in the game. :idunno:

I am pretty sure I already addressed last years stats twice already, all you simply need to do is read it. However, to save you the time of going back and looking at the last two previous post in the last 2 hours. Votto was 3rd in all of baseball last year in OBP. Meaning he was doing what a hitter is suppose to do, and that is not getting out. He was 3rd best in baseball at doing that. Then he was in the top 40 of all players in baseball in batting average and OPS. So yeah his slow starts has always ended up being a good season by the end of the year. Was it great like most of his years, no. Was it still a good season, and not bad like you all claim, no. The majority of players in baseball would take the year he had last year still.

Sorry but 12 hrs and 67 rbi in over 600 ab from your stud 3rd place hitter does not qualify as a good season in anybody’s book, don’t see how it could. Yes, you’re correct about the obp but I guess my biggest gripe with Votto is he seems to value that over driving in runs, as a result 67 rbi and only 5 this year. I watched probably 155 games last year and if you did also you have to be like me and lost count of how many times Votto took a 2-0 or 3-1 fastball down the heart of the plate belt high with a runner on 3rd and less than 2 outs and the infield back, from the 3 hole hitter??? Go to whacking, hit a grounder, hit a fly ball, GET THE RUN IN!! Then he’d end up with a walk and we wouldn’t score, which is not directly his fault I know, just seems like he’s more interested in keeping up the obp than driving in the run!

The most important aspect of a major league hitter is their ability to not make outs. You only get 27 of them a game. Joey Votto has excelled at that at a historic rate throughout his career. HRs, RBIs, etc., I hear those stats thrown around and I immediately think the two most irrelevant stats in the game. :idunno:

 

HRs, maybe? RBI’s? C’mon, hardly, that is the biggest goal of the offense, isn’t it, to SCORE RUNS?? Which way would you rather have it, 15 hits, would would be a good team obp and score 2 runs or 5 hits and score 5-6 runs??

The most important aspect of a major league hitter is their ability to not make outs. You only get 27 of them a game. Joey Votto has excelled at that at a historic rate throughout his career. HRs, RBIs, etc., I hear those stats thrown around and I immediately think the two most irrelevant stats in the game. :idunno:

 

It is great to have you back.