Umpires are as much a part of baseball as hot dogs, double plays and the seventh-inning stretch. Nothing is more enjoyable than booing an umpire on a controversial call on the diamond. And yet, with all the electronic gadgetry available to confirm or override an umpire’s call, is it really necessary to keep them around?
The answer appears to be a qualified yes. Even if a call on the bases is overridden, umps should be on the bases to confirm if a ball is fair or foul or a runner is safe or out.
Behind the plate is a different story. As pitch scans show, each ump has a different strike zone, visually and mentally robbing far too many pitchers and hitters of the benefit of consistently accurate calls. Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred says there’s no need for electronic calls on balls and strikes since umpires get it right 90 percent of the time. Unfortunately, 10 percent is too big a margin of error.
Electronic calls on balls and strikes would be fairer and more equitable. So let’s leave umps on the bases but not behind home plate. Keep a fourth umpire to determine if a runner is safe, out or interfered with at the plate just like they do on the bases. That way we can also retain the time-honored tradition of yelling “Kill the umpire!” on controversial calls. “Kill the robot” just doesn’t sound right.
— Dean Dranias, Plainfield
