While it’s still up for debate whether human beings or robots are better at calling balls and strikes, there’s one thing a computer can definitely do better than a flesh-and-blood umpire: count to three.
In the fourth inning of Thursday’s game between the Guardians and Twins, Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee got Minnesota infielder Royce Lewis to foul off two of the first three pitches he threw him. Bibee’s fourth pitch was a fastball that appeared to miss low, but home plate umpire Ryan Additon called it a strike. Except, oddly, Additon didn’t punch out Lewis. He apparently forgot the count.
Calling (and Counting) Strikes is hard. 😐 pic.twitter.com/NAgrHnSaWQ
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) June 2, 2023