Thomas Sowell had one of his ‘random thoughts’ columns today.  On of his thoughts got me thinking. 

It may not be possible to have machines call balls and strikes in baseball, since the vertical strike zone depends on the height of each batter. But a machine can tell whether any part of the ball passed over any part of the plate, so that umpires won’t be able to call their own “wide strikes” any more.

Why not use a machine to call balls and strikes.  A simple rule change would solve the problem that Mr. Sowell points out about the variable height of the strike zone.  Fix it. 

That is set the strike zone at some kind of fixed height, say eighteen to forty-eight inches high.  Set up a machine that will spot any ball going over the plate.  Heck, I watch a lot of baseball and I’m pretty sure no umpire knows what a high strike is or is supposed to be.

Then the batters will be happy because they won’t be called out on strikes off of the plate.  The pitchers will be happy because if they hit the corner it will count as a strike.  The only ones that will probably be unhappy are those whiny NY Yankee fans.

Fixing the strike zone isn’t without precedent in the sports world.  Playing the puck with a high stick used to relate to the players shoulders.  Somewhere along the line they fixed the height to forty eight inches which is the height of the crossbar. 

Why not call balls and strikes with a machine and get it right, everytime.