NPB's Umpire Evaluation System - Judging the Judges Behind the Scenes
Explaining how NPB umpires are evaluated and improve their skills through technology and institutional frameworks.
Articles tagged with umpire
Why Does "Strike" Mean "Hit It"? - The Origins of Baseball Hidden in the Umpire's Call
In English, "strike" means "to hit". Yet in baseball, a pitch the batter did not swing at (took) is also called a strike. Why is a word meaning "hit it" used for "a pitch that was not hit"? Behind this contradiction lies the changing role of the umpire in early baseball.
Umpire Bribery Allegations in NPB - Examining the Dark Rumors Surrounding Calls
Allegations of umpire bribery have surfaced again and again in the history of NPB. This article examines the debate over umpires' fairness and the course of institutional reform, from the Black Mist Scandal of the 1960s to the recent problem of blown calls.
Four Moments When Yomiuri Was Accused of Bending Fair Play - Bass's 55th, the Petagine Walk, Wakiya's Drop, and Kato's Beanball Call
Four moments when Yomiuri broke no rule yet was accused of bending an opponent's title chase or an umpire's call in its favor, set out through the facts and the reactions of those involved: the walks that stopped Randy Bass in 1985, the Petagine walk in 1999, Ryota Wakiya's drop in 2011 and the beanball call for Ken Kato in the 2012 Japan Series.
Umpire Abuse Problem - Protecting Officials in NPB
An analysis of verbal abuse and intimidation directed at umpires in NPB, examining ejection statistics, notable incidents, and the evolution of official protection measures.
Female Umpires in NPB - Breaking Gender Barriers
NPB has zero female umpires despite no formal gender restriction. While MLB saw its first female minor league umpire in 2021, Japan's barriers remain. This examines institutional and cultural factors.
Who Has Been Ejected the Most in NPB - The History and Hidden Statistics of Ejections
An ejection in NPB is one of baseball's most dramatic moments. Thrown caps, kicked dirt, uprooted bases. The history of ejections reveals NPB's fiery temperament and produces statistics that few fans ever see.
NPB Manager Ejections - The Aesthetics of Protest and Umpire Confrontations
Manager ejections recur every season in NPB. From Hoshino's 'fighting general' style to tactical ejections, this examines the reality and significance of managerial confrontations with umpires.
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.
Oh Ball and Nagashima Ball - Star Batters and the Umpire's Unspoken Bias
When Sadaharu Oh or Shigeo Nagashima stepped into the batter's box, umpires allegedly tightened the strike zone, calling borderline pitches as balls. Pitchers of the era, notably Yutaka Enatsu, testified to this phenomenon known as the Oh Ball and Nagashima Ball, symbolizing the issue of umpire bias toward star players in NPB.
The Introduction of Replay Review - The Coexistence of Technology and Umpires
Reveals the full picture of the introduction of replay review and the coexistence of technology and umpires. Considers the subject from many sides, including umpire error issues before video review and the future of technology and umpires.
Robot Umpire Experiments - Automated Strike Zone Possibilities
Surveys how automated ball-strike systems moved from trials to reality, from MLB's challenge-based ABS debuting in 2026 to the KBO's league-wide adoption in 2024, and weighs the prospects and sticking points for NPB.
Nobody Can Perfectly Explain the Balk - The Most Ambiguous Rule in NPB
The balk is baseball's least understood rule. The Official Baseball Rules list 13 balk conditions, yet interpretation varies by umpire and even players struggle to explain them. Why is the balk so ambiguous?
The Gesture Language of Umpires - Meaning and History Behind Calls
Even a single strike call varies between umpires. This article introduces the meaning of NPB umpire gestures, their historical evolution, and famous umpires known for distinctive calls.