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Artificial intelligence: The new MLB hack
Photo credit: Sportsnet
During a recent broadcast, Michael Kay, a New York Yankees announcer, openly pondered how the Jays managed to significantly enhance their performance between their first series in The Bronx a couple of weeks ago and the recently concluded series in Toronto.
"You know what's curious to me, though? We just saw the Blue Jays in The Bronx, and what we watched was a completely different team than the one we've seen here in Toronto. The one in New York did not foul off the amount of pitches this team does — it's like it's a different team in this ballpark. Now, home field advantage, there is something to that, but why would it manifest itself in the ability to foul off tough pitches? You can understand it if the next time you see them, after you saw them in The Bronx, is a month and a half later, but this is a week later, and it's a completely different approach and a completely different team."
The suggestion arose that the Jays might have been anticipating Yankee pitches more effectively. While the typical suspicion would point towards pitch tipping, in this series, the Jays demonstrated improved hitting against multiple New York pitchers. It seems unlikely that Toronto could have identified "tells" in multiple Yankee pitchers in such a short span of time.
In contrast with modern high-definition video feeds, artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to enable teams to conduct significantly faster and more thorough analyses of pitchers' motions and tendencies. With technology playing an increasingly pivotal role in sports, teams are leveraging it extensively in pursuit of a competitive advantage. It raises the question: Could Toronto, or perhaps other teams, be employing computerized methods to identify pitch tells?
Under MLB rules, teams cannot use video during an at-bat, but they can review completed at-bats on iPads. AI could analyze pitcher behaviour after each at-bat, identifying anomalies quickly. For example, if a pitcher changes wiping patterns on a hot day, AI could detect it, potentially giving teams an advantage. The legality and ethics of this approach are subject to ongoing debate. But is this considered cheating?
Teams are perpetually seeking an edge, and gaining a deeper insight into opposing pitchers could prove pivotal. Therefore, the pertinent queries are not merely "Would teams utilize AI?" or "Should teams employ AI?" Rather, the more pertinent question is likely, "Are teams presently leveraging AI TipBots?" and "What steps should our team take to remain at the forefront of this trend?"
Using AI in baseball isn't inherently considered cheating. However, concerns may arise if AI is employed to gain an unfair advantage over opponents, such as by illegally obtaining real-time information during games or using it to decode signs or signals in violation of league rules. The ethical implications come into play when AI is used in ways that undermine the integrity of the game or violate established regulations. As long as AI applications adhere to league guidelines and maintain the integrity of competition, they can be considered legitimate tools for gaining insights and enhancing performance. But where is the line drawn? Only time will tell.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 19 | 69 ANSWERS Artificial intelligence: The new MLB hack Should artificial intelligence be allowed in baseball? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 27.5 % |
| No | 50 | 72.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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