Tech Disputes in MLB

The Ball That Got Away From Everyone

Just about everybody in Oriole Park at Camden Yards thought Alonso had hit his second home run of the game, according to Yahoo Sports. The shot was so high and so far that the foul pole wasn't tall enough to stop it. The ball appeared to be fair to most fans and announcers watching. But umpire Will Little made the foul call, and the review upheld it. Nobody could explain why.

1 source

Orioles Say MLB Refuses to Buy the Right Technology

The Orioles believe Major League Baseball is too cheap to invest in better technology, Awful Announcing reported. Starting pitcher Chris Bassitt suggested that a laser or camera shooting straight up could solve the problem. Manager Craig Albernaz echoed the concern. Yahoo Sports Canada noted that the Orioles were perplexed that better tools weren't available to prevent such errors.

Pete Alonso proposed using Hawk-Eye technology, the same system tennis uses to review line calls. This technology could be applied to fair-foul calls in baseball. The system is already proven to work in other sports. Alonso's point: if tennis can use it, why can't baseball?

2 sources

Even the Yankees Manager Agrees Change Is Needed

In the Yankees clubhouse, manager Aaron Boone acknowledged the need for better technology to handle these situations. This suggests the frustration crosses both teams. Boone's agreement signals that the issue isn't about one bad call. It's about a bigger problem: baseball's inability to make clear decisions on difficult plays. The technology exists. Teams know it. Fans know it. MLB needs to act.