Baseball MLB and Atlantic League test new radar system for second time by Dylan Manfre May 23, 2019 BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – Major League Baseball representatives were present at TD Bank Ballpark for a second look at the new Trackman Radar system Wednesday morning ahead of Somerset’s doubleheader against the Sugar Land Skeeters. The MLB and Atlantic League first tested the new initiative prior to Somerset’s day-game against the High Point Rockers on May 16 where the home plate umpire wore an earpiece to call the game. What he heard was a call from the system that declared the pitch a ball or strike. “It is a laser radar tracking system. It zeros in on a strike zone, according to rulebook, but right now it’s zeroing in on heights,” said Jack Sweeney who handles umpire assignments in the Atlantic Professional League. “It is creating a strike zone and any pitch that goes through it is pre-recorded and will tell the umpire strike or ball. The ultimate goal is reinforcing the umpire’s decisions.” As far as today’s game goes, which Somerset dropped 2-0 in an abbreviated seven innings, the umpire was supposed to call the game based on his own strike zone as opposed to what the radar system told him. However, Sweeney mentioned that he felt the radar made some questionable calls. They also wanted to find the delay between when the computer’s outcome of the pitch and the umpire actually making the call. “There were three pitches in the game where the tech said it was a strike, it is usually the high and inside pitch or low and outside pitch, and the umpires called it a ball,” Sweeney said. “I kind of believe the umpire in his judgement was correct in that case so we have to fine tune that technology. From what we’ve seen there are more balls being called that the tech is counting as a strike, which historically, to eye of that umpire, was never a strike.” Sweeney, who was in New Britain when the he saw the system first tested, said the delay there was “much quicker between seeing the pitch, hearing the call from the computer and the umpire making the call.” He envisions the system being more specific and overall more positive for the game once they fine tune the zone to the height of the batter. In a three-year agreement with the MLB, the Atlantic League will be implementing the Trackman system with an ultimate goal of improving the pace of play and speed of the game. Other components to the agreement are increased base sizes from 15 inches to 18 inches and mound visits are only permitted in the case of a pitching change or an injury, according to a press release. Post Views: 728 The following two tabs change content below.BioLatest Posts Dylan Manfre Dylan is a sophomore journalism major at Rider University in Lawrenceville, New Jersey and covers the Somerset Patriots and Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. He is also the Sports Editor of Rider's student newspaper, The Rider News. Latest posts by Dylan Manfre (see all) Michael Crouse Represents Team Canada at 2019 Pan-Am Games - August 10, 2019 Somerset strings together four straight wins on road trip - August 9, 2019 Somerset ends homestand with loss to York - August 1, 2019 Patriots head into new month hoping to turn corner - August 1, 2019 Related TopicsAtlantic League Of Professional BaseballDylan ManfreMLBMLB-ALPB AgreementSomerset PatriotsSugar Land Skeeters Click to comment You must be logged in to post a comment Login Leave a Reply Cancel replyYou must be logged in to post a comment. Newsletter Subscription Can't Miss Posts! Women in Sports: NHL Network Host, Jackie Redmond by Nicholas Durst | posted on March 4, 2019 Lochte, Dressel and Ledecky all Chasing Gold at 2021 Tokyo Olympics by Anthony Paradiso | posted on April 18, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 19, 2021 Whoop Rewards Employees With $100 Each Month To Sleep by Inesh Chari | posted on March 22, 2021 You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) by Nicholas Durst | posted on April 27, 2021 More in Baseball You Know I’m Right, Episode 112: New York Jets’ Insider Brian Costello (Audio/Video) On the 112th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 109: The Athletic’s Marc Carig (Audio/Video) On the 109th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 108: WFAN’s Sweeny Murti (Audio/Video) On the 108th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... You Know I’m Right, Episode 107: New York Post’s Columnist Mike Vaccaro (Audio/Video) On the 107th episode of You Know I’m Right, Nick Durst and Joe Calabrese are joined by... Somerset’s three-run ninth not enough against Sugar Land AL All-Star game roster at the Quarter Pole