Gray Area Strikes

[SAump]

Originally Posted by tballump

... Also, I believe if you check an old web site that SDS once posted http.//cascreamindude.livejournal.com/ on a guy that keeps the records of all the MLBU ejections, you will not find too many ejections over umpires calling a pitch a ball. The majority of the ejections came over pitches that the umpire called a strike.

19 ejections were correctly called strikes and 9 ejections were correctly called balls.
16 ejections were incorrectly called strikes and 4 ejections were incorrectly called balls.

12 ejections were correctly called out and 6 ejections were correctly called safe.
4 ejections were incorrectly called out and 1 ejection was incorrectly called safe.

Data suggests that the offense is more than twice as likely to dispute a call without regard for right or wrong. This may suggest that an umpire is more than likely to err on the side of the defense which has less opportunity to gripe under original customs and traditions of the game. The defense is usually smart enough to let sleeping dogs lie. IOW, with the unflattering remarks coming from the bench area, the offense may also harvest what it has sown.

Gray area strikes: Read someone's comment about the data on perceived balls and strikes.
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Rulebook strikes versus measured strikes data: The eye of the umpire -- The Hardball Times
What does combining all available sets of data suggest? The difficulty is making a few tough borderline decisions {having zero sum effect over time} at critical points in the game.

Some humor is needed here and meant to loosen everyone up.
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If anyone should hit or miss a gray area strike, it should be a little swinging Alberto Pujols.