Is Baseball Ready to Go Robotic? Justice Behind the Plate
Pros The most significant benefit of robotic umpires is increased accuracy. The strike zone will become much more consistent, and instant replay will determine if baserunners are safe or out in close-call situations. This can make games more entertaining and fun for players and fans because there will be fewer controversies, and human bias will completely disappear. Cons Technology isn’t perfect. Turn on the next Sunday Night Baseball game, and you’ll see the “K-Zone” consistently state balls are strikes and vice versa. Furthermore, technology often gets bugs, requires updates, and has other issues that could delay games. It may also extend games, as replays will be necessary for any close baserunning play. One of the most significant downsides is the loss of the human element. There’s something exciting about watching a manager or player get into it with the umpire over a controversial call.
Most longtime baseball fans recall the events that transpired on June 2, 2010, at Comerica Park. Detroit Tigers pitcher Armando Galarraga was having the game of his life against the
Cleveland Indians, earning 26 outs without a single baserunner. Galarraga was on par to become the first Tiger ever to throw a perfect game. During what should have been the game’s final at-bat, the Cleveland batter hit a ground ball to the first baseman, who threw it to Galarraga as he ran to cover the base. Everyone watching thought they had witnessed a perfect game, but umpire Jim Joyce felt differently. He ruled the batter safe, ending Galarraga’s perfect game bid. Joyce later apologized tearfully once he realized he had made the wrong call. This wasn’t the first time, nor the last, that an umpire has made a mistake at the MLB level. Turn on any MLB game, and you’ll see at least one pitch incorrectly called a ball or strike. This has led many to question the umpire’s role in professional baseball. As technology has advanced, it has become capable of doing everything umpires do. Let’s explore the pros and cons of switching to robotic umpires.
MLB will likely start utilizing some robotic help in the 2026 season, but only time will tell if it improves the current system.
Why Do We Even Do That? Unmasking the Origins of Halloween Traditions
It’s hard to miss Halloween this time of year. Porch pumpkins start popping up in September, stores are loaded with candy and decorations, and your neighbors suddenly have a 12-foot skeleton in their yard. It’s a favorite holiday for many of us, but have you ever wondered why we do any of this? Take costumes, for example. That tradition goes all the way back to the ancient Celts and a festival called Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. The Celts believed that spirits of the dead could appear during the transition, so they lit bonfires and wore animal-skin costumes to scare them away. Later, Christian traditions blended with the old beliefs, but the costumes stuck around. Of course, things have changed a bit — few ghosts would be fooled by a “Minions” costume — but the idea of dressing up to become something else is still part of the fun. And what about jack-o’-lanterns? Believe it or not, they were originally carved from turnips. In Irish folklore, there’s a story about a man named Stingy Jack who wandered the Earth with a
lit carved-out turnip to light his way. Irish and Scottish immigrants brought their vegetable-carving tradition with them to the United States but found that pumpkins were more plentiful, easier to carve, and looked better lit up, so they made the switch.
Of course, trick-or-treating also has its own strange origins. In medieval Europe, people went door to door offering prayers in exchange for food; they called it “souling.” Later, kids in Scotland and Ireland started “guising,” which involved performing tricks or songs for treats. The American version really took hold during the 20th century, helped along by candy companies that were more than happy to keep the tradition going. As you can see, Halloween doesn’t come from one place or one story. It’s a jumble of old fears, borrowed traditions, and clever reinventions. Maybe that’s why it works. Every carved pumpkin or goofy costume carries a little history with it, even if we’re mostly just in it for the candy and the laugh.
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