Umpire Bribery Allegations in NPB - Examining the Dark Rumors Behind Calls
Allegations of umpire bribery in NPB history, from the 1960s Black Mist scandal to modern officiating controversies, and the institutional reforms that followed.
Articles tagged with judgment
The Hidden Training System of NPB Umpires - How Baseball's Invisible Protagonists Are Made
NPB umpires undergo rigorous selection and years of development before taking the field, yet their training system remains largely unknown. This article details the path from recruitment to first-team promotion, judgment training methods, and the impact of technology.
The Power of Official Scorers - The Opacity of Hit-or-Error Rulings
In NPB games, official scorers hold the authority to judge whether a batted ball is a hit or an error. These rulings shape major performance metrics such as batting average, ERA, and earned runs. Yet the standards are not fully objectified, and many situations rely on the scorer's subjective judgment. We explain dispute cases over rulings, the ambiguity of the standards, the challenges of objectification, and the powers and responsibilities of the official scorer position.