Touch 'Em All:
It's a brave new world for umpiring Umpiring will enter another dimension next week. The San Rafael Republics, an independent baseball team in California, will use a computerized video system to call balls and strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday when the team plays the Vallejo Admirals.
It's a brave new world for umpiring
Umpiring will enter another dimension next week.
The San Rafael Republics, an independent baseball team in California, will use a computerized video system to call balls and strikes on Tuesday and Wednesday when the team plays the Vallejo Admirals.
The games are being called the first not to use a human umpire.
Calls will be made by the Pitch F/X system with three cameras forming a triangular effect that judges a pitch's trajectory and speed as it crosses the plate, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Pitch F/X is used on TV broadcasts to determine a pitch's location and also for umpires to judge their work.
Eric Byrnes, a former Oakland A's player who supports an automated strike zone, will be the "strike zone umpire" and relay the calls to the teams and fans.
The experiment also will be a benefit for the Pat Tillman Foundation, named for the former NFL player killed in Afghanistan in 2004. Byrnes will donate $100 for every walk and strikeout and $10,000 for any player ejected for arguing balls and strikes.
Greinke's start delayed over wife's pregnancy
Zack Greinke's shutout streak is on hold while the Los Angeles Dodgers ace and his wife await the birth of their first child.
Greinke has pitched 432/3 scoreless innings, and was set to start Friday night against the New York Mets at Citi Field. He is approaching the big-league record of 59 straight scoreless innings set by Orel Hershiser in 1988 for the Dodgers.
Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said before Thursday night's game against the Mets that Greinke had returned to Los Angeles early in the morning to join wife Emily.
The Dodgers can fill Greinke's roster spot Friday if necessary and put him on three days' paternity leave.
The team is off Monday and returns to Los Angeles for a series against Oakland that starts Tuesday. Greinke leads the majors with a 1.30 ERA. He is 9-2 in 19 starts for the NL West leaders.
- Associated Press