Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Mattingly might prefer machine over man
Manager would like technology to help on umps’ calls
After another Marlins’ loss ended on a called strike out of the zone, Don Mattingly’s frustration with the umpiring boiled over Wednesday night.
After being no-hit for seven innings by Padres starter Chris Paddack, Miami rallied to trim San Diego’s lead to 3-2 with one out in the ninth inning. But with a pair of runners on, Brian Anderson and Curtis Granderson each struck out looking to end the game.
The problem? Both strike three calls landed outside the zone, per MLB’s Statcast tracking data.
“You hate to see a game end on a ball four,” Mattingly said. “And then [Anderson’s] at-bat, you hate to see that end on a ball down.
“It’s going to get crazy down the stretch with pennant races and guys arguing balls and strikes. I know they’re trying, but there’s way too many misses.”
Sunday’s loss to the Mets ended in similar fashion as Anderson struck out looking on a pitch outside in Miami’s 6-2 loss.
Following Wednesday’s defeat, Mattingly said Major League Baseball needs to implement a new system for determining balls and strikes, alluding to what many have referred to as “robot” or
“robo” umps.
“The league tells me you sound like you’re making excuses if you complain about [balls and strikes],” Mattingly said. “Obviously the stuff that’s going on in the Atlantic League, those things — it’s going to happen. It almost has to happen.
“Hopefully the technology gets there quick.”
In February, MLB and the Atlantic League agreed to a three-year partnership, where the independent league will experiment with new rules, essentially serving as a testing ground for a number of ideas that could later reach MLB..
Among the changes is a computerized strike zone, which would eliminate human error in determining balls and strikes.
Utilizing TrackMan radar technology, robot umps were officially introduced to the Atlantic League earlier this month. Wearing a wireless earpiece, a human umpire will still be located behind home plate, vocally relaying the call.
While MLB players and owners would have to approve any changes for 2021’s new collective bargaining agreement, it seems more a matter of “when” than “if” for robot umps. As Thanos once told Iron Man: “I am inevitable.”
Wednesday night wasn’t the first time Mattingly has been critical of umpiring this season.
Following an April 1 loss against the Mets, the Marlins skipper expressed his frustration on a number of calls, including questionable outcomes on balls and strikes.
“It was a rough night for those guys,” Mattingly said on April 1. “They cost us a run early. … I guess I’m not supposed to complain about calls, but the league needs to
look at it because it was shaky tonight.
“I understand the whole ‘Marlins aren’t supposed to be good this year’ [idea] and I guess it it’s OK to pile on. But they’ve got to — it’s got to be better than that. It was shaky tonight.”