KBO has confirmed detailed operating regulations for the automatic pitch determination system (ABS) and pitch clock (pilot operation).
KBO has finally decided on ABS’ strike zone setting standards and detailed operating regulations, which will be introduced into the KBO league from 2024, to minimize controversy over ball-strike decisions and strengthen the fairness of league management.
Over the past four years, the Futures League has been piloting ABS to improve complementary points by reflecting the opinions of the team and the referee. In addition, while preparing for the introduction of ABS into the KBO League, the final draft was prepared through continuous discussions with each team’s supervisory meeting, operation team team meeting and executive committee, expert advisory meeting, team survey that experienced ABS, and data sharing and discussion with MLB secretariat.
The left and right standards of ABS, which will be applied in the 2024 season, will be applied by expanding both sides of the home plate by 2cm. This setting is an adjustment to implement a zone that is as similar as the existing strike zone as possible as the referee and the team recognize in order to minimize trial and error on the spot due to the rapid change of the zone in response to the increase in walks due to the ABS’s accurate decision on the strike zone under the rules. When the MLB Secretariat operated ABS in the minor league, it referred to the case of expanding 2.5cm on both sides.
The upper and lower criteria are judged as strikes only when the ball meets the upper and lower height criteria at two points on the middle and end of the home plate. Regardless of the catcher’s port position and method, a strike is determined by whether it passes by meeting the left and right standards and the upper and lower standards.
The height of the upper and lower parts is applied based on the ratio of height of each player. The upper standard is 56.35% of the height of the player, and the lower standard is 27.64% of the height of the player. This ratio was based on the average upper and lower ratio of the existing referee strike zone.
It also confirmed detailed enforcement regulations following the introduction of pitch clock. In order to apply the pitch clock rule suitable for the league, the KBO finalized the KBO pitch clock rule by analyzing detailed indicators such as a survey of average pitching intervals of KBO league pitchers last year.
In the KBO league, warnings are issued according to the pilot operation in the first half of the year without applying sanctions such as balls and strikes for violations. In addition, restrictions on departure from the pitch board, such as restriction on checks, do not apply. In the Futures League, the entire rule applies.
As for the time limit between pitches, 18 seconds is applied when a runner is not on the base, and 23 seconds is applied when there is. MLB applies 15 seconds and 20 seconds, respectively. Between a batter and a batter, a pitch must be made within 30 seconds. The catcher should be positioned at the base of the pitch clock until 9 seconds are left, and the batter should be ready for batting by 8 seconds. If this is violated, a ball is declared on the defense and a strike on the offensive side.
In order to prevent avoiding the application of the pitch clock rule, the number of times a batter’s time is limited to one per at-bat, and the “restriction on the departure of the pitch board” applies to the defense team. These include attempting to check, pretending to throw a check ball, and removing a foot from the pitch board when there is a runner. The request for time by the defense team, the catcher’s departure from the lead-in position outside the permitted time, and the pitcher’s request for a replacement of the ball are also considered as departure from the pitch board. 라바카지노주소
The departure of the pitching board is allowed up to three times per at-bat, and a balk is declared when the fourth departure is made. However, a balk is not declared if an out is recorded due to the fourth departure of the pitching board or if the runner advances to the base. The accumulated number of departure from the pitching board is initialized when one runner advances to the other base.
KBO said, “As the enforcement rules of ABS and Peach Clock are finalized, we will stabilize the system so that the new system can settle stably, and distribute information and hold briefing sessions for quick adaptation of the team.”