WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 2015 SPORTS Baseball teams to have computer call balls and strikes SAN RAFAEL: No blaming or booing the erized strike zone for years,” Byrnes said. prone to have a little more grace. The said. “It’s because of speed. It’s because Longo said. “We have a lot of traditional- umpire for a questionable called third “Just like instant replay was, it is long one thing you hope for is for consisten- of technology limitations. It’s because ists in our office when it comes to tech- strike this week in a Northern California overdue. Very much looking forward to cy.” quite frankly, the strike zone is different nology in baseball, but we all feel that independent league. seeing how the entire process unfolds. I The technology features three cam- for every single guy.” this is an exciting opportunity to test out The human element that many in truly believe we are very close to seeing eras that record the velocity, trajectory Byrnes will be umpire of the strike an emerging and controversial part of baseball appreciate will be absent dur- it implemented in the big leagues, just and location of every pitch to deter- zone to relay the information from the baseball.” ing an experiment for a pair of games. A a matter of time.” mine how closely each pitcher comes computer everyone in the ballpark. Each Even instant replay has had its share computer will call balls and strikes as The San Rafael Pacifics will use the to hitting the catcher’s target. night, he plans to donate $100 for each of critics along the way. Dickey appreci- the home plate umpire handles all of automated technology in two games Not that this will necessarily reach walk and strikeout to the Pat Tillman ates any work to improve baseball even his other regular duties. “It’s going to be against the Vallejo Admirals at Albert the major leagues any time soon - if Foundation and $10,000 if he ejects a if he is rooting for umpires to stay for the strange yelling at that computer,” San Field. The program, Pitchf/x, comes ever - despite Byrnes’ efforts and ener- player for arguing balls and strikes. long haul. Francisco Giants manager Bruce Bochy from the company Sportvision in near- gy. “I have a hard time seeing that ever “Hopefully somebody gets tossed,” he “We’ve seen replay for the most part joked. Late yesterday night, the com- by Fremont, offering technology to happen,” Toronto manager John quipped. Pacifics assistant general man- be a success. You have to be open to puter system will stand in for pitch calls track and digitally record the full trajec- Gibbons said. “It’ll give somebody a ager Vinnie Longo is happy to have his anything that will uphold the integrity of in what is considered to be the first pro- tory of live pitches within an inch of wild idea, though. I guess nobody ever team test out the system and be part of the game,” he said. “Even with replay fessional game without the umpire accuracy. “Personally, I have some figured they’d see replay, so who history, too. there are still some really gray calls. That making those decisions. A full umpiring empathy for those guys back there. It’s knows.” Baseball Commissioner Rob “I think that the issue of the automat- being said, the behind-the-plate umpire, crew will be there for everything else. not easy to track a 100 mph baseball Manfred doesn’t envision it either. “I ed umpire is going to come to Major I enjoy the human error component of it. Former outfielder Eric Byrnes will over- less than a quarter of an inch,” Toronto think we are a ways away from the League Baseball at some point in the It makes for a good spectator sport. see the computer. Blue Jays knuckleballer R.A. Dickey said. technology on, using technology to call near future, and that we can provide an “Plus, it wouldn’t give us anybody to yell “I have been pushing for a comput- “That’s tough on the human eye. I’m balls and strikes. I really do,” Manfred excellent setting to serve as a trial,” at. That’s kind of part of the fun.”—AP England aim to overcome Mitch hitch in third Test BIRMINGHAM: Joe Root is confident England’s latest collapse against an Australia pace attack led by Mitchell Johnson won’t still haunt them come the third Ashes Test at Edgbaston starting today. Left-arm fast bowler Johnson took 37 wickets at 14 apiece as Australia thrashed England 5-0 on home soil to regain the Ashes in 2013/14. Johnson, however, was mocked by England fans while going wicketless during the first innings of Australia’s 169-run defeat in Cardiff in the opening match of the current Ashes cam- LONDON: This is a Sept. 7, 1987 file photo of Nottinghamshire’s South African cap- paign. tain Clive Rice, as he holds the trophy surrounded by team mates, after winning the It was though a very different story in NatWest Trophy on the balcony of the pavillion at Lord’s after his team’s triumph the second Test at Lord’s, where Johnson over Northamptonshire. —AP had match figures of six for 80 during Australia’s crushing 405-run win that lev- Former South Africa elled the five-match series at 1-1. England captain Alastair Cook may be skipper Clive Rice dies in better form than Australia counterpart Michael Clarke but that counted for little JOHANNESBURG: Former all-rounder Clive tion president and Test skipper Ali Bacher also as the hosts, with Johnson taking three Rice, the first post-apartheid captain of South lavished praise on Rice. “Clive Rice was a truly cheap wickets, slumped to a humiliating Africa, died yesterday aged 66, an official great all-rounder,” he said. “Had it not been for 103 all out in their second innings. from the national cricket association said apartheid, he would have been a world great But a defiant Root said of Johnson: “It’s Rice, who had been suffering from a brain in the game of cricket. wrong to single one man out. You look at tumour and was admitted to hospital last “He was in the same class as Ian Botham Cardiff and he only got two expensive weekend with severe stomach pain, played and Richard Hadlee.”Clive possessed huge wickets so it’s about putting him under most of his cricket during South Africa’s 20- determination and courage and was one of pressure.” year isolation from the international game. the best cricketers South Africa has pro- England have responded to their He was selected for a 1971-72 tour of duced.” International Cricket Council chief Australia, which was cancelled because of executive and former South Africa wicket- drubbing at Lord’s by dropping Gary opposition to the South African government’s keeper David Richardson described Rice as a Ballance and promoting the experienced policy of apartheid. “giant”. Ian Bell-himself struggling for runs to When South Africa returned to the inter- “Rice was a giant of the game, not just in Ballance’s positon of number three, with national fold in November 1991, Rice was South Africa, but across the cricketing world,” Jonny Bairstow coming into the side at appointed captain of a team which played he said in a statement. “Though his interna- the expense of his Yorkshire colleague. three one-day internationals (ODIs) in India. tional appearances for the Proteas were limit- But he was controversially omitted from ed to just three ODIs, Clive was a hugely inspi- ‘EXTRA PACE’ the South Africa team which played in the rational figure for those of us who had the Australia left-arm fast bowler Mitchell 1992 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand privilege to represent our country since read- Starc was not concerned by England’s with the selectors placing an emphasis on mission to international cricket in 1991. attempts to stabilise a top order that has youth. Former South Africa stars paid tribute “It was fitting that Clive was named cap- been 43 for three or worse seven times in to Rice, who played in 482 first-class matches tain of the national team on that historic first their past 13 Test innings and promised for Transvaal, Natal and Nottinghamshire, tour to India. “Clive was hugely regarded there would be no let-up from the scoring 26,331 runs at an average of 40.95. across the world game as a player, but later as He also took 930 wickets at an average of a coach and mentor, where he inspired the tourists’ pace attack. 22.49 before retiring in 1994. Pat Symcox likes of Lance Klusener, Shaun Pollock and “I am sure we will be following suit tweeted: “Devastated ... a great friend and Jonty Rhodes. “He will be greatly missed by from what Mitch (Johnson) dished up at wonderful man. Clive Rice has passed away. those who knew him. “On behalf of the ICC, I the end at Lord’s,” said Starc. “It is great to The world is a poorer place”. Peter Kirsten would like to extend our condolences to his see a few of the guys jumping about, and called him “one of the most formidable, gifted wife and children at this difficult time.” we got a few wickets that way. We have and competitive all-rounders that any age of In an era of notable all-rounders, including got extra pace in our side.” the game has ever seen”.