ESPN unveiled a new real-time ball-flight tracking technology Wednesday to be used during this year's Home Run Derby. They're calling it "Ball Track" ("This is a family Web site, this is a family Web site, this is a family Web site," the blogger repeated to himself), and it's apparently based on Doppler Radar technology, which will allow the anchors to actually predict whether the ball will land over the fence while its still in mid-flight. Oh, well that sounds wonderful. I just can't wait for Chris Berman to scream, "THIS ONE'S HEADED FOR CHESTERFIELD!!!" while a ball is somewhere over second base. There isn't much suspense in the home run derby, but what little that does exist is entirely gone if the broadcast crew and TV audience actually knows whether a ball will clear the fence before that actually happens.
Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on "Ball Track" (I seriously can't type that without laughing). I'm a huge dork. I love science for the sake of science. I know what the Doppler effect is, and I didn't even have to look it up. If this sort of technology is used in moderation it would probably be really cool. If someone goes on a Josh Hamilton-like run and starts bombing balls over the fence, it might be really interesting to pull back behind the plate and see real-time whether a fifth or sixth homer will clear the fence.
Then again, when was the last time anything associated with ESPN or the Home Run Derby was used in moderation? I'm not getting my hopes up.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Does this mean we won't have to listen to BACK -BACK -BACK . Can't wait