Request For An Upgrade

Everything around us has the ability to be improved and as society works towards these innovations, each aspect becomes more accurate and efficient. Sports are no exception to this ideology. Issues in games and controversies stemming from them are constantly headlining social media and sport networks, such as ESPN. After so many botched and missed calls across all leagues, it is time fans ask, where is the upgrade? Not an upgrade in the level of talent of players or venues. Where is the upgrade in the implementation of technology across the sports world? Scientists and engineers have worked tirelessly to create and develop technology to increase accuracy in many sport areas. Yet, only a certain amount has been put into use. And some leagues prohibit the full use of the equipment for reasons beyond both you and I. For example, FIFA outlaws the use of instant replay in its game. Somehow though, it uses sophisticated goal line technology to see if the soccer ball crosses into the goal. So, why would it not also reap the benefits of instant replay to see if a player really flopped or if one used a hand inside the penalty box? The application of such electronics would only make the game more authentic and precise.
Over the past three and a half years a Yale professor, Toby Moskowitz, analyzed every Major League Baseball (MLB) pitch thrown. After about a million balls thrown, Professor Moskowitz noticed something astounding. While behind the plate, umpires were only 88% right on their calls. For one thing, people earning between $120,000 (rookie umpires) and $300,000 (seasoned veterans) should not be only 88% right in their profession. For example, if a chef made 88% of his dishes within health codes, he would be shut down immediately! That 12% of error equates to about 30,000 wrong calls each year and for players who are playing for their salaries, miscalled pitches can be costly to both them and their team. In the HBO special about how this tech should be used, an MLB analyst named Eric Byrnes worked as umpire in a minor league baseball game. He used several cameras and a worker to report to him the results. In the end, he did not miss a single call. So why doesn’t the league just implement more cameras and technology to make the game as fair as possible? This way there could be no arguing about calls and no one would be robbed of a potential at-bat.
The answer lies in the deep tradition of baseball. Error and confusion adds into the drama of the game. Also, each umpire is different in the way they interpret and call the strike zone. So, each pitcher and team must work with different strategies to come out on top. However, in my mind, this does not mean the MLB should not put such technology into use. This applies to several other leagues as well. Using instant replay in all of basketball and soccer are some examples. My question to the reader is what is your personal opinion? Should the leagues stick to “tradition” or improve themselves and turn to the future? A future that would lead to fairness and accuracy across the board.

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/hbo-throws-strike-baseball-tradition-real-sports-look-umpires-compare-computers/

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