Speaking with ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, MLB commissioner Rob Manfred addressed the possibility of having balls and strikes called by computers when the technology is made available.

“As a technological matter, I believe we will get to the point that balls and strikes can be called in real time by a machine,” Manfred said. “I think you have to make that bet, if you have watched what has happened in recent history.”

Once developed, the technology would ensure balls and strikes are called accurately in terms of what the strike zone is “by the book.” In the wake of the protest by MLB umpires, which could be traced back to players’ discontent with the accuracy of home plate umpires’ strike zones, this is an important conversation to have. It will surely be a heated discussion.

“There is a separate question on whether you want to take the human element of a home plate umpire out of the game,” he continued. “When the technology gets there, I’m sure the owners will have a conversation on whether they want to go to make that additional move of taking that human element out of the game. Right now, we don’t have technology that in real time can more accurately call balls and strikes than our human umpires, who — let’s not forget — get it right about 95 percent of the time.”

While he did not offer any sort of timetable for when this technology would be completed, or if it is being actively worked on, it would be a significant change to the game. Human error is a huge part of baseball and has been since its inception, and Manfred has been chipping away at it with changes like instant replay.

Having balls and strikes called by machines would be a major leap forward, but unlike instant replay, it would significantly change the game for the players.

Take Greg Maddux for example. He would chip away at the corners, painting them over and over again until eventually his strike zone was expanded to a few inches off the plate. Pitchers earn balls and strikes on the corners by hitting their spots and making the umpire’s job easier.

This change would also drastically impact catchers. Pitch framing would be a thing of the past. Mets catcher Travis d’Arnaud is exceptional at “stealing” strikes. In fact, his ability to steal strikes for his pitchers is one of the few reasons he’s stuck around this long as it is a major portion of his value. If balls and strikes were to be called by a computer, there would be no need for pitch framing, something that catchers have been working on their entire lives.

Do you support having balls and strikes called by machines? Or do you believe human error is an important part of baseball? Comment below or discuss it on Twitter with me @LBarer32!