May 6, 2005
BASEBALL: Working the Umps
Sabernomics runs some numbers comparing ball and strike calls in Questec vs. non-Questec parks to see if some managers, in the non-Questec parks (i.e., where balls and strikes are still solely a human judgment call) have a greater effect on the umps. Conclusion: about the only managers with a major positive impact are Tony LaRussa and Jim Tracy.
No Questec in the 90s, where Bobby Cox had the umps calling strikes for Maddux & Glavine that were 10 inches off the plate.