Umpire evaluation

[markedman5]

Interesting article 

https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/insider/story/_/id/33826541/how-mlb-umpire-grades-really-work-means-future-balls-strikes

[jerichoholicninja]

I can't see the whole article but the opening two paragraphs don't give me a whole lot of hope the rest of the article is worth reading. The issue wasn't the call Schwarber was ejected for it was the 7 or 8 in total for both teams earlier in the game.

[markedman5]

The article says the strike zone we see on TV is not the strike zone used to evaluate the umpires. 

They get a buffer zone ……which is collectively bargained.

 

[KeithStone53151]

I read that too, a 2 inch buffer zone seems ridiculous. So his only missed call was the one that was an MLB leading 6.5 inches off the plate to Segura. I can understand a buffer zone but it should be half an inch at most in my opinion. The plate is 17 inches wide and the umps are getting 2 extra inches or 4 total inches to call a strike. That's just stupid. No wonder guys get rung up so often on pitches off the plate, umps know as long as it's within 2 inches it's better to error on the side of a strike off the plate than a ball on the plate. Also those outs end games faster and get their job done faster. And because of this ridiculous 2 inches of buffer, Angel Hernandez gets a 96% grade from MLB on a game that he clearly called like absolute trash. And everyone sits here wondering why mlb umps never get fired, their grading system has them thinking they are good at what they do even when they actually suck at what they do...

[jerichoholicninja]

Do umps get 2 inches either way on safe/out or fair/foul calls too? A buffer is fine but 2 inches off the plate is ridiculous.

[young guns]

Is there a buffer for balls too?  If so, can an umpire screw up and call every pitch 2 inches inside the plate a ball and every pitch 2 inches off a strike and then receive a 100% from mlb despite calling what would probably be the worst called game in mlb history?