(670 The Score) When he isn't playing, Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is also a regular viewer of MLB games on television. Having been on both sides of that equation, he wants to share something about the strike zone box graphic on television.
“Those broadcast zones stink, by the way,” Hoerner said on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Tuesday afternoon.
“Fans and everyone watching the game on TV, they take the broadcast strike zone as literal. But there’s times they just like forget to adjust it for the height of the batter. If you actually pay attention, there’s times where it’s below my belt and times where it’s way above my belt. Like, it’s generally right – especially inside (and outside) – but the height of it is wrong all the time.
“There have been times where I’ve taken pitches on TV look like they’re two balls up but they’re actually strikes, and my mom will be like, ‘That pitch is way high.’ I’m like, ‘That was actually a strike.’ But it goes the other way too. Sometimes the bottom of the zone is just in the wrong place and it makes it look really bad.”
MLB’s official strike zone stretches from the bottom of the hitter’s knees to the midpoint between the top of the shoulders and the top of the uniform pants – and of course ranges horizontally across home plate.
Hoerner has struck out in just 10.6% of his plate appearances this season, which ranks sixth in MLB entering play Tuesday.
The Cubs open up a three-game series against the Angels on Tuesday night in Anaheim. Pregame coverage starts at 8 p.m. on 670 The Score.
Listen live to 670 The Score via:
Audacy App | Online Stream | Smart Speaker