Former Red Sox Pitcher Has Ridiculous Opinion On Robot Umpires

Walker Buehler’s Boston Red Sox tenure was unsuccessful by all accounts. So much so that when the Philadelphia Phillies signed the veteran pitcher after he was released, they sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in an attempt to get him back on track.

He made one start in the minor leagues, and it didn’t go great. He allowed five hits and one run over three innings, striking out five and walking three. Aside from the one run allowed, he looked a lot like he did during his time with the Red Sox.

While in Triple-A, he had his first taste of the automated ball-strike system (ABS). MLB is testing the system in the minor leagues and used it during the All-Star game in anticipation of bringing it to the major league level.

After a start with the technology in place, Buehler had strong opinions about its usage.

“I think it’s inaccurate,” said Buehler, an eight-year veteran and two-time All-Star. “I think in most of the stadiums, it’s not even actually on the plate.”

The strike zone is difficult to define, and Buehler may have a point in that regard. The zone established by umpires over the history of the game probably varies from the one that’s defined in the rule book. Still, a way to hold umpires accountable and take some judgment out of their hands is a good thing, at least in this writer’s opinion. While that opinion from Buehler is measured, he went on to air more grievances with the system.

“I think starting pitchers that have pitched for a long time deserve certain parts of the plate that other guys don’t get,” Buehler said.

Unwritten rules exist, and umpires certainly give established pitchers the benefit of the doubt over rookies, but that doesn’t mean they’re correct to do so. A strike is a strike, regardless of who throws it.

Buehler has been in the league since 2017, and likely falls into the bucket of pitchers who “deserve” certain parts of the plate, at least according to him. The veteran needs all the help he can get at this point. In 112 1/3 innings with the Red Sox, he walked a career-high 10.8% of opponents.

His next start will come on Friday, but the ABS won’t come into play. He’s scheduled to make his Phillies debut against the Kansas City Royals.