Removing the human element from Major League Baseball umpiring wouldn't stop Terry Francona from taking the field to air out frustrations.
Experimentation with an automated ball-and-strike system has reached the professional baseball stage. The technology was put into place Tuesday in the Triple-A Pacific Coast League which, according to The Athletic, is the highest level of baseball to test the system to date.
Terry Francona caught a glimpse of the "robo-umps" when the Cleveland Guardians used the technology for intrasquad spring training games. Francona believes the system still needs improvements, but even if it reaches a high level of accuracy, he won't hesitate to act on any gripes he might have during a game.
"A computer," Francona told The Athletic when asked with who he'd take up his issues with the system. "And I'd kick its ass, too. You imagine charging the plate with a computer in your hand?"
Arguably the most common take from non-baseball fans is that the sport is boring. MLB managers and/or players seeking physical harm on electronic devices certainly would add a level of entertainment to America's pastime.
