# Sports rules that are so systematically ignored by the officials they should be removed **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 12, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429 "2019-04-12T06:45:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2019, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/61 "2019-04-24T14:30:53Z")
I believe RickJay is entirely correct re: automated pitch-calling. That’s exactly the job for high tech systems and the decision will be immediate. Let the human bean behind the plate decide the other stuff; did the batter swing or check it? Was he hit by the pitch or did he make an inadequate attempt to avoid it? But in determining whether or not the ball nicked the strike zone, a zone that will not change from AB to AB or even pitch to pitch, machines should be able to outperform man by a lot. ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/62 "2019-04-25T01:40:12Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > I believe RickJay is entirely correct re: automated pitch-calling. That’s exactly the job for high tech systems and the decision will be immediate. Let the human bean behind the plate decide the other stuff; did the batter swing or check it? Was he hit by the pitch or did he make an inadequate attempt to avoid it? But in determining whether or not the ball nicked the strike zone, a zone that will not change from AB to AB or even pitch to pitch, machines should be able to outperform man by a lot. I agree 100%. You’ll still need a plate ump but not for strike zone calls. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/63 "2019-04-25T13:23:58Z")
You could let the ump signal the balls and strikes, too. Just put one of those things in his ears like they use on Impractical Jokers. It’ll still look like he’s making the call. ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2019, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/64 "2019-04-25T14:50:10Z")
[Steee-rriikke?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyghaQMO5HQ) ---
**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:** [April 25, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/65 "2019-04-25T16:24:53Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > You could let the ump signal the balls and strikes, too. Just put one of those things in his ears like they use on Impractical Jokers. It’ll still look like he’s making the call. “And the ump is signaling to hold the pitching, it seems he’s having audio problems.” Still worth it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/66 "2019-04-26T20:50:13Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > That’s the only reason Don Drysdale got his scoreless innings record. He hit Giants batter Dick Dietz and the umps decided suddenly to enforce that rule which prevented a run from scoring with the bases loaded. It was rigged. > [Dick Dietz, 63; Hit by Drysdale Pitch in Famed 1968 Dispute](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-jun-30-me-dietz30-story.html) Giancarlo Stanton’s gruesome face injury a few years ago was another instance - it was called a strike because he was judged to have offered at the ball that hit him in the face. Doug Mientkiewicz had a similar experience while playing for the Yankees - the umpire loudly shouted “no, you stay here!” when he started to trot to first. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429/67 "2019-05-08T21:49:37Z")
> [@Dahu](#): > > I think - at least partly - this convention is to stop something like the Clive Thomas controversy happening again: > > [World Cup stunning moments: Clive Thomas denies Zico and Brazil | Soccer | The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/24/world-cup-stunning-moments-clive-thomas-denies-zico-and-brazil) Tottenham just beat Ajax today to advance to the Champions League Final…on a goal that was literally one second past the time stoppage time should have ended. (90+5, the goal was scored at +5:01.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-rules-that-are-so-systematically-ignored-by-the-officials-they-should-be-removed/832429.md?page=3)