OC Register: Angels catcher Max Stassi concerned that Robo Umps threaten pitch-framing era

[AngelsWin.com]

HOUSTON — Robo Umpires seem to be on the way to the major leagues, and Angels catcher Max Stassi isn’t thrilled about it.

Commissioner Rob Manfred said this week in an interview with ESPN that his plan is for some version of the automated ball/strike system (ABS) to be in the majors in 2024.

That could render pitch-framing as a worthless skill.

“As a catcher, it’s going to completely change the position,” said Stassi, who is rated as one of the better pitch framers in baseball. “I don’t think people realize how much it will change. Right now it’s in the minor leagues. When it’s in the minor leagues it doesn’t change much because they’re still trying to get to the major leagues, where they know they’re not using (the ABS).”

Stassi said if catchers didn’t need to worry about how they received the ball, they could simply position themselves on both knees to block balls, or have their bodies turned to make a quicker throw. That would all require changes to the catcher’s equipment.

He also said pitch-calling would change if a catcher didn’t have to worry about the way balls were presented to the umpire.

“It takes away the art of catching,” said Stassi, who is signed through 2024 with an option for 2025.

Of course, many would say that all of that is just the catcher’s problem, and they’ll simply have to adjust. The idea is to get the pitches called accurately.

The ABS seems to do that, according to Angels catcher Matt Thaiss. Thaiss has been catching at Triple-A while the ABS has been in use for more than a month.

“I personally was skeptical about it at first, as a hitter,” Thaiss said. “I thought breaking balls at the bottom of the zone were going to clip the zone and bounce and be called strikes. I haven’t seen that once. To me personally, I feel like it’s been pretty tight, pretty accurate. I haven’t seen really any mess-ups as a catcher.

“There are some hitters that would kind of disagree with me, but they’re not back there every day just seeing all the pitches and things like that. I would say it’s been pretty successful in Triple-A so far.”

Thaiss also said the calls have come quickly, which corrected an issue the ABS had when it was first tested in the Arizona Fall League or lower levels of the minors.

“I haven’t seen a delay once,” Thaiss said. “As soon as I’m catching the ball, the umpire has whether it’s a strike or a ball.”

It’s still possible that it doesn’t happen, because Manfred can’t implement a rule change like this without the players’ approval. It’s also possible that they use a system in which the umpires still call balls and strikes normally, but the ABS is used for challenges at key moments in the game.

NOTES

Right-hander Ryan Tepera had his suspension reduced from three games to two games, and he began serving it on Friday night. That leaves just one active Angels player, closer Raisel Iglesias, to serve a suspension resulting from last weekend’s fight against the Seattle Mariners. Iglesias has a two-game suspension that is currently awaiting his appeal. Reliever Andrew Wantz returned to the active roster on Friday after serving his three-game suspension. Third baseman Anthony Rendon also has a five-game suspension that will be waiting for him in 2023, after he’s back from the wrist surgery that will cost him the rest of this season. …

Catching coach Bill Haselman will manage the Angels on Sunday and Tuesday, when bench coach Ray Montgomery and Manager Phil Nevin will both be suspended. Montgomery has been filling in for Nevin as manager. …

Montgomery said there was a “temptation” to give Shohei Ohtani a day off on Friday, so he could have two straight days off after he threw a season-high 108 pitches on Wednesday. Ohtani has reached that pitch count in each of his last two starts. “There’s always temptation, but he doesn’t like days off,” Montgomery said. “He likes to compete. He’s fine. He said he was good.”

UP NEXT

Angels (LHP Patrick Sandoval, 3-2, 2.63) at Astros (RHP Jose Urquidy, 6-3, 4.36), Saturday, 1:10 p.m., Bally Sports West, 830 AM

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[tdawg87]

Lol he knows that's the thing he's best at.

[failos]

32 minutes ago, tdawg87 said:

Lol he knows that's the thing he's best at.

welcome back, mang

[AngelStew43]

With robotic umps, does that mean that most catchers will have to learn how to hit?  

[Lou]

Pitch framing brought attention to umps making bad calls. Therefore, catchers brought it upon themselves. 

[AngelsLakersFan]

58 minutes ago, AngelStew43 said:

With robotic umps, does that mean that most catchers will have to learn how to hit?  

A little bit more for sure.

[failos]

Stassi should just worry about his shitty offense instead of quipping about robo umps.

[CaliAngel]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

Pitch framing brought attention to umps making bad calls. Therefore, catchers brought it upon themselves. 

If a catcher has to "frame" a pitch, obviously the pitch is not a strike. So anytime a catcher moves his glove after catching a pitch, it should be an automatic ball.

The framing shit is beyond stupid. They're not fooling anyone.

[Slegnaac]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

Pitch framing brought attention to umps making bad calls. Therefore, catchers brought it upon themselves. 

So true

[Slegnaac]

Catchers will still need to

1. Catch the ball

2. Throw out runners attempting to steal a base 

3. Make plays on runners attempting to cross home plate

4. Back up throws to first base

5. Call pitches

So don't worry Max, there are still plenty of defensive skills a catcher will need to possess. 

[CaliAngel]

5 minutes ago, Slegnaac said:

So don't worry Max, there are still plenty of defensive skills a catcher will need to possess. 

Skills that Max seems to be lacking...

[Slegnaac]

2 minutes ago, CaliAngel said:

Skills that Max seems to be lacking...

Which makes one wonder, why would Pitch Framing be considered more valuable that the other skills.

[IheartLA]

The whole concept of pitch framing is to deceive the umpire into mistakes which is what the point of ABS is to prevent.

When two forces are conflicting with each other there will be war.

Feel like ABS is coming whether the no hit catchers want it or not.

Edited July 2, 2022 by IheartLA

[CaliAngel]

We wouldn't need computerized balls and strikes if the players held the umpires accountable regardless if it was in their favor or not.

I expect to get a lot of shit for this but this is how I feel about it.

You can't bitch and moan about strikes called against you and then be perfectly fine with getting a called strike that is nowhere near the zone.

If the players really cared, at some point when a pitcher get a called strike that is nowhere near the zone they need to say "no blue, that's a ball, I'm not taking that strike. Get that batter back in the box and I'll get them out with the real strike, not some bullshit assistance from a blind umpire."

Because until everybody holds each other accountable for what's actually happening with these calls nothing's going to change.