- Michael Conforto leaned into the strike zone to get hit by a pitch and win a game for the Mets.
- The umpire who made the incorrect call allowing this has noted that it was incorrect.
- MLB has +600 odds to replace umpires with automated technology by 2022.
LAS VEGAS - Major League Baseball has long been plagued by the decisions that umpires make.
On Thursday, umpire Ron Kulpa admitted to making a mistake with a call on the New York Mets’ Michael Conforto.
Conforto leaned well into the strike zone in order to take a ball on the elbow, thereby gaining first base and driving in a run to win the Mets the game.
After the game, Kulpa was apologetic.
“The guy was hit by the pitch in the strike zone,” said Kulpa. “I should have called him out.”
This situation has raised an old debate in baseball - the replacement or supplementation of umpires with an automated system for calling balls and strikes.
Advertising Disclosure
USAOnlineSportsbooks.com provides you with the most current information regarding sports betting and fantasy with the help of commissions we receive from links you may click on our site.
The upsides are obvious - no more human error changing the outcome of games. However, the online sportsbooks do not seem to think that the MLB will make such a change - at least not by next season.
Will The MLB Use Automated Ball-Strike Technology For All Teams Home Openers In 2022?
- Yes +600
- No -1200
When it comes to the betting odds, the proposition that the MLB will automate ball-strike technology by the beginning of 2022 is unlikely.
It remains vaguely within the realm of possibility, but the real question is whether or not the “no” odds are profitable enough to wager on.
Breaking down the odds, -1200 odds is an 8% rate of return, on a wager that will not be paid out until the beginning of MLB’s 2022 season.
As far as investments go, 8% over a year is fairly good, but this does come with the risk of losing all your money.
Still, betting against MLB modernizing is usually a solid play, and could be well worth considering for the long-term focused MLB betting enthusiast.
Maxwell joined the USAOnlineSportsbooks team in 2019. He focuses on creating sports betting content that informs and educates. He focuses on the NBA, the NFL, College Football and Basketball, and whatever else comes across his desk.
