Robot umpires are getting closer to the major leagues. Last week, MLB announced that robot umps will be calling balls in strikes in at least ten Triple-A ballparks. The opinions are mixed among the players, but former Dodgers starter Rich Hill is not a fan.
Hill appeared on Buster Olney’s ESPN podcast and is highly skeptical of utilizing robot umpires. Hill believes that robo-umps won’t aid MLB’s efforts to increase the number of runs scored.
“Does this promote offense in the game, with an automated strike zone? If pitchers, we figure out a way to drop in a curveball in there, and it nicks the strike zone but never really gets back of the plate because you’re going to be able to hit the front of the plate, is that something that’s going to be fair for the hitters?