Friday, October 18, 2019

FoxTrax (PitchCast) Strike Zone Box Fails in ALCS

FoxTrax, the graphic strike zone overlay fed by MLB's PitchCast application, failed in Game 3 of the ALCS, with the infamous box disappearing from atop home plate in the bottom of the 1st inning, and remaining down for nearly six innings—an umpire injury and substitution delay and lengthy second inning all transpired during the period in which Fox Trax went missing.

This isn't the first time FoxTrax or one of its electronic strike zone overlay counterparts (e.g., ESPN K-Zone, etc.) has failed during gameplay, but the downtime hasn't usually constituted a majority of the ballgame.

The most recent graphics malfunction occurred during Game 4 of this postseason's ALDS in Tampa Bay, in which James Hoye scored a 99.3% plate performance. In this case, the box that went down in the second inning of Astros-Rays was restored less than an inning later.
Related PostJames Hoye Calls Within a Pitch of Perfection in ALDS (10/9/19).

We've also documented the history of PitchCast's tendency to display inaccurate vertical strike zone graphics, especially in real-time and a complete history of our coverage on the electronic balls/strikes concept (including the Automated Ball/Strike System tests in the Atlantic and Arizona Fall Leagues which spurred several 'robot umpire' ejections) may be found under our "Computer Strike Zone" label.
Related PostPostgame Processing Changes Gibson's Strike EJ QOC (9/21/19).

Video as follows:

Alternate Link: Computerized pitch graphical overlay fails in New York (CCS)

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