Robo-Umps: Balls, Strikes, and Meltdowns

In partnership with

THE BRUSHBACK

The playoffs have made it painfully clear — human umpires are hanging on by a thread. In a sport tracking spin rate, launch angle, exit velocity, bat speed, sprint speed, and even heart rates, we’re still letting a guy with a mask and a mood decide October.

That’s not tradition. That’s chaos.

⚙️ THE FIX IS COMING

Automatic Ball-Strike (ABS) tech arrives in 2026, and not a moment too soon. It’s already been tested in the minors, in Spring Training, even on the All-Star stage — and it’s simple:

Strikes are strikes. Balls are balls.

The data doesn’t get tired. The system doesn’t hold grudges. And your zone doesn’t shrink because you rolled your eyes in the third inning.

This is baseball growing up — and I’m here for it. Give me precision, not vibes-based balls and strikes.

💻 BUT HERE COMES THE GLITCH

Let’s not pretend it’ll be perfect.

Servers crash. Sensors misread. Humidity in Miami can turn the zone into a Picasso sketch.

The next blown call won’t be a bad eye — it’ll be bad Wi-Fi. And what then? Who do you scream at? You can’t kick dirt on a laptop. You can’t throw your cap at a Cloud Server in Secaucus.

We didn’t delete human error. We just moved it to IT.

🕰️ THE FUTURE ALWAYS STUMBLES FIRST

I still want robo-umps. I’m all-in. But don’t expect serenity on Day 1. The first time a playoff game swings on a software hiccup, 30,000 fans will boo AI.

Then — like the pitch clock, the DH, and the shift ban — everyone will adjust. And soon, the idea of a human eyeballing a 99-mph sinker will feel like a Deadball-Era joke.

Baseball always evolves slowly… but it never goes backward.

So bring on the bots. Bring on the algorithms. Just make sure the damn Wi-Fi holds up in October.

John Boxley
High N Tight

Learn Business Buying & Scaling In 3 Days

NOVEMBER 2-4 | AUSTIN, TX

At Main Street Over Wall Street 2025, you’ll learn the exact playbook we’ve used to help thousands of “normal” people find, fund, negotiate, and buy profitable businesses that cash flow.

Use code BHP500 to save $500 on your ticket today (this event WILL sell out).

Click here to get your ticket, see the speaker list, schedule, and more