Tom Glavine Target of a Conspiracy???

[StlSluggers]

Seriously. I got this in my daily player updates today:

Remember when Curt Schilling went all medieval on the Questec system? Tom Glavine may be the next in line. He gave up 8 runs, 7 earned in 3.2 IP on 6 hits, and 6 walks while striking out 1. Yes, I said 6 walks. He’s now walked 22 batters in 30.2 IP. He’s just not getting that extra 8 inches on the outside of the plate that he got before big brother started watching. And don’t think the umpires don’t know Glavine’s status in the Players Association. The MLBPA could be a co-conspirator in an effort to rid the baseball world of such “blight” (it’s not like there’s anything else wrong with the game they should be concentrating on) and I doubt the umpires mind Tom’s consternation all that much.

First of all, for those of you that don't know, here's a quicky description of the Questec system:

Major League Baseball's Official Rule Book has always had a clear definition of the strike zone, but during the last quarter-century that definition has been replaced by each umpire's interpretation of the zone. The strike zone has evolved into a much shorter and wider strike area than was ever intended. This season, Major League Baseball is commited to making sure the strike zone is enforced as described in the rule book.

In order to return the official strike zone to the game and to assist the umpires, Major League Baseball has contracted QuesTec to develop the new Umpire Information System, as well as operate the system over the next five seasons. The Umpire Information System is able to identify whether a pitched ball is in or out of each hitter's strike zone to within half an inch of accuracy. It will be used to provide the umpires with objective feedback on their performance in calling balls and strikes according to the rule book.

Now I'm not buying the conspiracy theory. I want to make that clear. I just don't jump on those bandwagons. However, it does make for some interesting conversation.

So I'll ask the obvious question here: Why would the MLB umpires want Tom Glavine to retire? What would they gain?

[CubsFan7724]

Im not sure, but it sure is hilarious. Maybe Tom Glavine is having affairs with every single umpires wife?

[StlSluggers]

I don't think so. Chicks dig the long ball.

[StlSluggers]

Seriously, though, is the author suggesting that the MLB umpires want Questec's system to stick around? I thought they hated that thing as much as the players do.

[slomo007]

Seriously, though, is the author suggesting that the MLB umpires want Questec's system to stick around? I thought they hated that thing as much as the players do.

Why would they hate it? It takes the burden of calling strikes off of them....if a manager complains, they can simply fall back on the fact that the machine said so, not them.

[StlSluggers]

Seriously, though, is the author suggesting that the MLB umpires want Questec's system to stick around? I thought they hated that thing as much as the players do.

Why would they hate it? It takes the burden of calling strikes off of them....if a manager complains, they can simply fall back on the fact that the machine said so, not them.

I wouldn't want a machine telling me how to do my job, and I definitely wouldn't want to be graded against the output of a machine. That's just me, though.

[slomo007]

Good point, I guess. I'm not really sure how they would view it...but I would imagine that some of them don't want to be in the spotlight of a controversy so would likely rather have the machine.

As for Glavine, well, he just sucks.

[SaintsOfTheDiamond]

I don't think so. Chicks dig the long ball.

Hehe. That's one of my favorite commercials of all time.

As for the conspiracy against Glavine, the guy is 39, and it could be he's just lost it. And I'm with you Sluggers on not wanting to have to look over my shoulder to make sure my calls are checking out with a system that has been shown to be far from perfect.

[red]

I've had the distinct dis-pleasure of watching Glavine in almost every start this year.
It ain't the umpires or Questec. The guy is simply missing.

[Cooner]

Good point, I guess. I'm not really sure how they would view it...but I would imagine that some of them don't want to be in the spotlight of a controversy so would likely rather have the machine.

As for Glavine, well, he just sucks.

I'm pretty sure the idea is this-

1. umpires hate Questec- it makes their bad calls obvious (and all umps make one at some point or another) and it makes their role in the game obselete. It also creates some accountability, which is something no union (the umpires union i mean) will support.

2. If Tom Glavine can't get strikes called for him because Questec/MLB has started enforcing the strike zone, he gets frustrated with the system.

3. Glavine, in his influential role in the players union, gets the MLBPA to get on board the "banish the Questec" bandwagon, and the MLBPA/Ump's Union get MLB to can Questec. This takes us back to the "shorter, wider" strike zone that Glavine has always been successful with in the past.

A bit of a reach, but umps getting Glavine frustrated with a Questec strike zone (and the ump can say, hey, it wasn't my strike zone, it was Questec's strike zone that made you walk 6 guys) causing the PA to hate the system is the general idea.