Electronic Umpiring System Makes Connecticut Debut

NEW BRITAIN, CT — Very little chirping from the dugouts over pitch calls, a common occurrence in professional ballgames, was heard from either side Tuesday night during an Atlantic League of Professional Baseball contest between the Long Island Ducks and the New Britain Bees. The relative silence was likely due to the implementation of an automated ball-strike system (ABS), the latest in a series of experimental rules being used in the league this season in cooperation with Major League Baseball.

A TrackMan-powered ABS, mounted on the roof of New Britain Stadium behind home plate, utilizes a digital strike zone for each hitter and transmits calls of "ball" or "strike" to the home plate umpire, who is carrying an iPod Touch connected to a secure stadium WiFi network and wears an AirPod in his ear.

Darien product Devin Burke was the starting pitcher for the Bees, opposing Long Island's Pedro Beato, while New England native Tim Rosso was the umpire working behind the dish. Burke and Rosso spoke with media members following the game, a 3-2 Bees victory; their comments can be seen and heard below.

Other than a couple of incredulous stares and one lengthy look-back by a catcher, the evening ran quite smoothly for Rosso.

(Video: Tim jensen/Patch Media Corp.)