The reaction of the national team upon first encountering a ‘robot referee’

 The national team preparing for the Asian Professional Baseball Championship (APBC) 2023 held its first practice game. However, there is one thing that received as much attention as the players who improved their sense of real-life skills. The main character was the Automatic Pitching System (ABS), also known as the ‘robot umpire.’

The baseball team, led by coach Ryu Joong-il, played its first practice game against Sangmu (Armed Forces Athletic Corps) at Daegu Samsung Lions Park on the 8th. The result was a 10-3 victory for the national team. After all of the national team's pitchers who played for Sangmu went down, the national team's batting lineup scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning, tilting the pendulum to one side.

The game on this day was run with the same four-umpire system as in the regular season, and strike decisions were made by ABS. Before the game, an official from the Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) said, "We decided to use ABS in practice games against Sangmu on the 8th and 11th. Players will also be subject to this from next year, and it is also the zone closest to the rules." “We decided it was necessary to provide it, and the system is in place,” he explained.

In this year's APBC, referees rather than ABS call balls and strikes, but this was a move to prepare for ABS as it will be introduced in the KBO League starting in the 2024 season.

Prior to reviewing the introduction of the KBO League, the KBO verified the stability and accuracy of the system through step-by-step ABS pilot operation and research and development on improvement measures in the Futures League over the past four years, analyzing various effects of ABS on the game and related data. We also collected opinions from on-site officials, including players and referees. 

The KBO recognizes that the introduction of an automatic pitch judgment system is a part that will bring a very big change to baseball games, and plans to minimize confusion on the field by carrying out detailed reviews and preparations in various fields to prepare for the introduction starting from KBO League demonstration games in 2024. am. In addition, prior to the exhibition game, we plan to hold system-related training and briefing sessions for each major target, including players and referees, to help members understand and collect additional opinions. 

In addition, we will continue to conduct additional field tests even in the off-season and consult with experts in the relevant technology field and baseball officials to establish strike zone application standards, response plans in case of system errors, and detailed operation implementation rules for game application, etc. Organize the manual. During the trial period, we will closely check and supplement any areas that require additional hardware or software improvement and collect opinions from players and fans to prepare for the introduction of the KBO League in 2024.

The game in which ABS appeared went on without any major problems throughout the nine innings. However, sometimes the decision was declared a little late. There was a difference in time compared to when the non-ABS referee called strike or ball.

Director Ryu Joong-il’s thoughts were similar. Manager Ryu said, "I asked him briefly and he said that depending on the type of pitcher, he or she may or may not call a strike. I think I'll have to look at it again on the 11th, but the call seems a little late. I didn't feel it at first, but as soon as I struck out, "The call didn't come out. It was about a second late," he said.

The players' reactions were generally closer to positive than negative. Choi Seung-yong (Doosan Bears), who became the national team's second pitcher following Moon Dong-ju (Hanwha Eagles), said, "It felt like the zone was narrower than when a human umpire judged the ball, and especially on both sides." “It may look awkward, but there will be consistency in the zone, so if (the players) adapt, it will be okay,” he said, evaluating ABS.

바카라사이트