During Wednesday’s game between the Dodgers and Seattle Mariners at Dodger Stadium, SportsNet LA broadcasters Joe Davis and Orel Hershiser did a live in-game interview with Dodgers ace and future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw. During the two-minute-long interview, the Dallas TX native and 14-year MLB veteran was asked what his thoughts were on the possible implementation of an electronic strike zone – or Robo-umps, as it is often called – at baseball’s highest level. As is always the case when interviewing the three-time Cy Young award winner, eight-time All-Star, MLB MVP, five-time ERA titleholder, Gold Glover, and former MLB Player of the Year, Kershaw gave an honest, no-nonsense, straight-from-the-heart answer that left little doubt as to where he stood on the controversial subject.

“I’m such a traditionalist when it comes to the game, and I know I’m probably in the minority these days, but I just love the idea of an umpire and just what that looks like and how that feels,” Kershaw answered. “But I also know that guys want it to be right, and missed calls, if you can change that and get them all right a hundred percent of the time, I understand that argument.

“So, I don’t know what that looks like,” Kershaw continued. “I think a lot of guys are in favor of it, and I’m kinda not, but maybe they could persuade me if I saw the technology because that box on TV isn’t always right, you know, and it isn’t always exactly where it should be. Then there’s the 3D box, the 2D box; which one are you going to use? So there’s still a lot of variables there.”

All of this comes to light as a result of the poor (horrendous) umpiring we have seen through the first 11 weeks of the 2021 season. And though we are accustomed to an occasional blown call, especially balls and strikes, they are coming in at an alarming rate this season – something that Major League Baseball and the MLB Umpires Association seem to care little about.

As most baseball fans know, Major League Baseball was scheduled to test the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system during Spring Training 2020 which, of course was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is, however, currently being used at eight of nine ballparks in the Low-A Southeast League, which began play on May 4. As of this writing, there have been no formal reviews on how the ABS system is working out.

“It’s hard to handicap if, when, or how it might be employed at the major league level because it is a pretty substantial difference from the way the game is called today,” Chris Marinak, MLB’s chief operations and strategy officer, said during a March 17 on-line presentation. “The goal here is really to focus on demonstrating system reliability and to start to get more athlete feedback from more players, coaches, and umpires. The technology is really in pretty good shape.”

Although Robo-umps are still a ways away at the major league level, one has to believe that with the increasing number of blown calls and complete lack of accountability of umpires like Gibson and Angel Hernandez (to name only two), the demand for an electronic strike zone will only gain momentum moving forward.

…perhaps even (eventually) from one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

Play Ball!

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