2026 Razorback Baseball

[wmr]

I'm not going to root for us to lose but we'd be better off for seeding purposes.

How's that?

[Pig Benis]

If we're not hosting we're better off being in the 20-25 overall seed range. We would be a 2 seed in a regional with the overall 9-12 seed and avoid UCLA, GT, and UGA in a potential super.

This wouldn't be a bad draw. The 2 seed in Lincoln feeding into Chapel Hill.

https://d1baseball.com/postseason/2026-ncaa-field-of-64-projections-may-18/

[DrMongoose]

Interesting...

https://x.com/eddyfurniss/status/2056389284291129476?s=61&t=yqgft3mqzhJjVNQN1flX9A

[Feral]

Interesting...

https://x.com/eddyfurniss/status/2056389284291129476?s=61&t=yqgft3mqzhJjVNQN1flX9A

It's definitely progress over perfection.

It won't be 100% accurate until they get to a point where they measure every single hitter for a precise strike zone like the MLB.

But like he says deeper in his tweet, at the very least it's going to eliminate those egregious strike and ball calls.

[BASS]

You mean 6 inches off the dirt and a foot off the plate isn't a strike anymore

Oh the huge manatees!

[Show-Me Hog]

We play Tinnersee.

[buff2.0]

4:30 on SECN

[Pig Benis]

Tate McGuire is starting today.

[buff2.0]

Maybe I can find something better to do then

[jdcatty]

Interesting...

https://x.com/eddyfurniss/status/2056389284291129476?s=61&t=yqgft3mqzhJjVNQN1flX9A

It is very interesting.  Just coming here to post that. 

[BleedinRed]

AI is killing sports.

[DirkPiggler]

AI is killing sports.

It needs to kill umpires.  Figuratively of course, with the exception of Perry Costello. 

There is zero justification for continuing to rely on the human element for ball/strike calls when there is a much better automated solution.  Even if the one the SEC is using is imperfect (shocker that the dixie mafia would mess something up - one of Sankey's kids probably owns the company that created this one), it's still more consistent than any of the umps I've seen in the college game.

[BleedinRed]

I've not watched any sporting event and thought to myself, "This umping/refing/judging is so seriously flawed that we need an automated system to replace humans."  Have there been things here and there, obviously.  But this is creating a solution for not really a problem.  The most egredious example (Angel Hernandez) could be solved by firing the terrible human (Angel Hernandez).  While I obvously don't want outright incompetance, I like a little judgement in the games.

[buff2.0]

I know you've watched Arkansas football games

[BleedinRed]

I know you've watched Arkansas football games

I knew that would be the response.

See my sentence, "The most egredious example (Marc Curles) could be solved by firing the terrible human (Marc Curles)."

[DirkPiggler]

I've not watched any sporting event and thought to myself, "This umping/refing/judging is so seriously flawed that we need an automated system to replace humans."  Have there been things here and there, obviously.  But this is creating a solution for not really a problem.  The most egredious example (Angel Hernandez) could be solved by firing the terrible human (Angel Hernandez).  While I obvously don't want outright incompetance, I like a little judgement in the games.

In the first game yesterday Missouri's catcher had seven successful challenges through seven innings. 

One bad call per inning on balls and strikes alone is too many, especially when there is an option that could eliminate the problem.

Sometimes it's not as simple as a bad ump like Hernandez.  Maybe the plate ump had a bad day and missed 10% of his calls, but is normally pretty accurate.  Rather than having a team potentially get its season ended because Kevin Sweeney had a migraine or a vicious hangover, why not use a tool that would take away the ability for his bad day to ruin someone else's season?

[DirkPiggler]

https://x.com/Vern_Funquist/status/2057084585163243525?s=20

[BleedinRed]

In the first game yesterday Missouri's catcher had seven successful challenges through seven innings. 

One bad call per inning on balls and strikes alone is too many, especially when there is an option that could eliminate the problem.

Sometimes it's not as simple as a bad ump like Hernandez.  Maybe the plate ump had a bad day and missed 10% of his calls, but is normally pretty accurate.  Rather than having a team potentially get its season ended because Kevin Sweeney had a migraine or a vicious hangover, why not use a tool that would take away the ability for his bad day to ruin someone else's season?

Balls and strikers are 100% judgment on the edges whether up, down, left or right.  Generally that judgement is not egredgious and is consistent for both teams.  Players adjust to the zone.  It is my opinion, probably incorrect as usual, that it is a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist.  

[BleedinRed]

https://x.com/Vern_Funquist/status/2057084585163243525?s=20

That simply isn't correct.  Calls are being overturned where the ball crosses the plate 1/4" outside the Ump's strike zone.  That ins't error.  That is a computer saying the zone is slightly smaller and the Ump is saying it is slightly bigger.  

[DirkPiggler]

Balls and strikers are 100% judgment on the edges whether up, down, left or right.  Generally that judgement is not egredgious and is consistent for both teams.  Players adjust to the zone.  It is my opinion, probably incorrect as usual, that it is a solution for a problem that doesn't really exist. 

It does exist though. 

You've been a Razorback long enough to know the "the calls even out over time" trope is a fallacy.  We get ten bad ball/strike calls against us in the CWS semifinals, then we get two each go our way over the next five years against SEMO, Grambling and Missouri. 

Players shouldn't have to adjust to the zone.  The zone should be objectively defined and umpires should have to adjust to it. 

Something else I've noticed while watching MLB this year is that the challenge system makes the umpires better.  Instead of having their individualized strike zones they are calling to a standard and as a result are more accurate than in the past.  These are the best umpires in the world, so you know if it's helping them there's room for improvement with the college guys who are multiple levels below them.