The poor quality of umpiring in Major League Baseball has been one of the biggest storylines over the past few seasons.
While it’s undoubtedly a difficult job, MLB umpires are supposed to be the best of the best.
Yet, it’s mind-boggling just how often the “top” umpires get calls wrong.
In fairness, Angel Hernandez is in a league of his own when it comes to umpire incompetence.
However, the fact that he’s still allowed to ump in the Majors speaks to a much bigger problem.
There is very little accountability when it comes to umpires – and this fact is what drives players, managers and fans absolutely crazy.
Three-time Cy Young Award Winner Max Scherzer believes he has a solution to the problem.
The future Hall of Famer thinks there should be a “relegation” system when it comes to umpires.
Scherzer believes MLB should use electronic technology to grade each umpire – and at the end of the year, the worst of the worst get sent down to the minor leagues.
In his first pitching appearance since offseason back surgery, the soon-to-be 40-year-old Scherzer experienced firsthand the automated strike zone utilized in Triple-A.
Despite being an old-school throwback, the advanced technology left an impression on the grizzled veteran.
“For me going forward, how I’ve conceptualized what the electronic strike zone should be used is we need to rank the umpires. Let the electronic strike zone rank the umpires, and then we need to have a conversation about the bottom 10 percent or whatever you want to declare what the bottom is and talk about relegating those umpires to the minor leagues and getting the best umpires in the game,” Scherzer said.
“That way the umpires are going up against themselves. There’s still a human element of how you rank umpires. It’s amongst themselves. Policing the bottom is the way to go.”
“When I’m out there pitching, if you told me I have the 10th best umpire or the 75th best umpire, you don’t really notice much between them because they’re really good at their jobs. The umpires are actually really good. It’s really the bottom umpires we all have a problem with.”
“If there was a mechanism to make the umpires on the bottom better, I think that would be a better to address this.”
To be honest, I think Mad Max might be onto something here.
Anything to hold the umpires accountable would be a step in the right direction.
But to have some true consequences on the line – such as relegation to the minors – would seemingly prove to be extra-effective.
What are your thoughts on Scherzer’s suggestion?
The umpires have a strong union and would surely fight tooth and nail against it.
However, would we see a significant improvement in umping quality if a relegation system was indeed put in place?
Now, the most important question – is Angel Hernandez the single worst umpire in the history of baseball???