# Baseball - fixed strike zone? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 20, 2018, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234 "2018-10-20T01:59:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/21 "2018-10-21T02:49:56Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > I think that the reason the strike zone is based on the batter is that prior to TV cameras and expensive pitch tracking software there was not a good way for the umpires to judge the absolute height of a pitched ball. It is more about trying to get some kind of standard that an umpire can judge than making the game fair for all body types. I firmly believe technology should judge whether a ball is in the strike zone. The umpire would still need to judge check swings and such but tech does a better job than a person in judging whether a ball was in the strike zone. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/22 "2018-10-21T03:06:15Z")
> [@gazpacho](#): > > I think that the reason the strike zone is based on the batter is that prior to TV cameras and expensive pitch tracking software there was not a good way for the umpires to judge the absolute height of a pitched ball. It is more about trying to get some kind of standard that an umpire can judge than making the game fair for all body types. Nope. It’s always been an effort to give the batter a fighting chance to accomplish a difficult task. The way the umpire judges the height of the ball as it passes over the plate is by positioning himself right behind the catcher and watching closely as the ball crosses the plate. It would actually make the umpires job much easier to say the pitch has to be between 24" and 48" high. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/23 "2018-10-21T12:15:39Z")
surprised someone has not mentioned the stunt pulled where the St. Louis Browns sent a midget up to bat since his strike zone was so small. Eddie Gaedel was his name. > **[Eddie Gaedel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Gaedel)** > > Edward Carl Gaedel (June 8, 1925 – June 18, 1961) was the smallest player to appear in a Major League Baseball game. > Gaedel gained recognition in the second game of a St. Louis Browns doubleheader on August 19, 1951. Weighing 60 pounds (27 kg) and standing 3 feet 7 inches (109 cm) tall, he became the shortest player in the history of the Major Leagues. Gaedel made a single plate appearance and was walked with four consecutive balls before being replaced by a pinch-runner at first base. His jer... ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/24 "2018-10-21T15:46:31Z")
This thread doesn’t make a lick of sense. Why would it be desirable to move to a fixed strike zone when we now have the technology to make an accurate and fair zone regardless of body type? Maybe instead of a catcher there could be a hoop and if the ball goes through it’s a strike. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/25 "2018-10-21T15:58:02Z")
Yeah, I’m not sure I get it, either. Given the tremendous degree of accuracy existing technology offers- it works really, really well - adjusting the strike zone for each batter doesn’t seem like an impediment to anything. The rules are fine as they are. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/26 "2018-10-21T16:06:36Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > This thread doesn’t make a lick of sense. Why would it be desirable to move to a fixed strike zone when we now have the technology to make an accurate and fair zone regardless of body type? **Maybe instead of a catcher there could be a hoop and if the ball goes through it’s a strike.** And when the bat hits the hoop? Remember, it’s possible for a curve ball to hit the back of the zone. Or to hit the front and be caught well below the knees. It’s a 3D box the shape of home plate, not just the rectangle in front. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/27 "2018-10-21T20:42:32Z")
I don’t like the idea of throwing to a hoop. The catcher does a lot more than just catch the ball and there’s plenty of drama from a catcher chasing a wild pitch, catching a pop fly, tossing out a base stealer, etc. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/28 "2018-10-21T21:08:05Z")
Nah, Running Coach nailed it, A hoop doesn’t work. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/29 "2018-10-21T21:13:12Z")
“You have to have a catcher, otherwise you will have a lot of passed balls.” -Casey Stengel ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/30 "2018-10-21T22:06:59Z")
Nobody thinks the hoop thing was an actual suggestion. Right? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/31 "2018-10-21T22:40:34Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Nobody thinks the hoop thing was an actual suggestion. Right? :dubious: The way you put it, yes. If you didn’t mean it to look serious you failed. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/32 "2018-10-21T22:45:34Z")
I would be happy if the umpires would agree on a strike zone. I don’t like this “he’s a pitcher’s umpire,” “he’s a hitter’s umpire” stuff. Read the rulebook and call balls and strikes. Why should a game be decided by a umpire’s personal predilections? I remember a while ago how Eric Gregg completely made a championship game a complete screwup by calling everything thrown inside fair territory a strike. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/33 "2018-10-21T22:45:39Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Nobody thinks the hoop thing was an actual suggestion. Right? :dubious: After many years on the board, I’m sure that there is no proposition so silly that someone hasn’t made it in all seriousness. So if you don’t want a remark to be taken seriously, it’s best to include a smiley. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2018, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/34 "2018-10-21T22:50:47Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > Nobody thinks the hoop thing was an actual suggestion. Right? :dubious: > [@Colibri](#): > > After many years on the board, I’m sure that there is no proposition so silly that someone hasn’t made it in all seriousness. So if you don’t want a remark to be taken seriously, it’s best to include a smiley. Serious suggestion: A garage door with the strike zone outlined in masking tape. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Yookeroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yookeroo/32/323_2.png) [@Yookeroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yookeroo)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/35 "2018-10-22T04:01:00Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > I can see moneyball types being attracted to it, however, because it gives a set parameter to judge players by. Huh? How does this follow? > [@Velocity](#): > > I don’t see a problem with the OP’s proposal. In many other sports, it’s the athletes who have to conform to the standard-sized targets/equipment and not the other way around. Sure. But is this desirable? In basketball, it selects for tall players. Fine, I’m not suggesting this is a bad thing. But is this a good thing? And will this improve baseball? And as **Colibri** pointed out, the point of the strike zone was to put the ball in play by pitching to a location where the batter can strike the ball. Maybe we want to change that. But the with direction baseball is going, I’m not sure we do. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/36 "2018-10-22T11:43:44Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > It would actually make the umpires job much easier to say the pitch has to be between 24" and 48" high. How is an umpire going to judge that when there isn’t something alongside the plate that indicates 24-48"? It’s an order of magnitude easier to judge height by watching the ball pass by an object that is the height you are trying to compare against. I’m in the camp that “knee to armpit” is a definition of convenience for the umpire, not the batter. If a fixed strike zone was easier to call, the original rules would have had a fixed zone. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/37 "2018-10-22T11:56:32Z")
MLB should look into technology involving the use of computer simulated strike zones that take into batter height. This technology could then be superimposed with the use of special video cameras, similar to the simulated strike zones we see on MLB Network and other sports telecasts, except that there’s an official one operated by MLB umpires. Real umps would still need to call people out, approve of time-outs, and otherwise remain involved in the game, so the system wouldn’t outright replace umpires, just improve the accuracy of balls and strikes. Real umps could still track pitches and be a back-up in case of system failures. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/38 "2018-10-22T11:57:46Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Because in this situation a tall batter will never see a strike below his knees while a short player will see many strikes below the knees giving the taller player a huge advantage. How much difference, really? I bet all but a handful of players are in a fairly small height interval, say between 5’9" and 6’4". Some of that differential is outside the strike zone (mostly from the feet to the knees). And players don’t exactly tend to stand straight up at the plate; the typical batting stance tends to shrink the distance between the knees and shoulders a bit, and would do so proportionately to height. Probably about 3-4 inches’ difference between the current strike zones of 5’9" and 6’4" players, assuming they still really use a shoulders-to-knees strike zone. (It’s my understanding that they really haven’t for quite a while now.) > [@](#): > > Look, hitting a baseball is unlike anything else (I don’t know anything about cricket so that may be similar). It needs specific rules. And I’m proposing one. ---
**Author:** ![Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a183cd/32.png) [@Barkis\_is\_Willin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barkis_is_Willin)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/39 "2018-10-22T13:31:16Z")
To be perfectly honest, I’ve always thought a fixed zone would make sense. Yeah, I know, advantages and disadvantages for shorter or taller players. How big a difference are we really talking about? I can’t think of many other instances in sports where the framework of rules is variable by player. But the reality is it will never happen. No chance. It’s been this way forever and baseball is not going to change a rule that is going to skew things to give one guy even a slight advantage over another. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2018, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234/40 "2018-10-22T14:47:36Z")
When I play tennis, we use the honor system and to call the ball “in” or “out”. Can you imaging having batters do that? “Damn, that caught the corner. Nice pitch.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/baseball-fixed-strike-zone/823234.md?page=3)