MLB: Alfonso Márquez in favor of using technology to score balls and strikes

Alfonso Márquez, the first Mexican umpire in history, spoke exclusively to En Juego Deportes about the changes to the rules that will be applied starting with the 2023 MLB season. The official, who has directed Championship Games and World Series, considered that the appearance of the clock has been very positive, as it has streamlined the games.

“Whenever there is change, well it is a little difficult for us (umpires), I think they were very necessary changes, the clock thing eh we have realized that there was a lot of unnecessary dead time in the game, at least I realized that the games were very long unnecessarily.”

On the controversy that surrounds baseball with the use of technology and the possibility that a computer will define whether a pitch is a ball or strike, Marquez said he is in favor of its implementation, as this would give more value to the work done by umpires in baseball.

“For me the reviews and all that, after having adjusted, I do like it because I always had that nightmare of working, God willing, for 30 years and that the name of Alfonso Márquez is only known for that very important play in a very important game that I failed.”

“The problem is that all the ballplayers also believe that this should be the zone, so we are struggling with that part of the technology”.

“For me, if they are going to introduce technology already talking about the zone, to mark what are balls, strikes, they should turn it on, because that is the only way we are going to realize what is going to happen,” he said.

On the weight that a franchise like the Dodgers and Yankees can have for umpires when deciding, Márquez said he does not believe that there is any kind of pressure or tendency to favor the so-called “big” teams.

“No, and I tell you for this, I don’t think there is for several reasons, mentally as an umpire I don’t think there is any teammate so good to be able to change his way of working, I was always taught by my veteran colleagues, who taught me that you have to work the same every game whether it is training or in a World Series, if not imagine ah geez today we play such a team no, well you have to give it that way imagine,” he said.

Alfonso Márquez added that during the recess period he tries to disconnect completely from sports, because it is the time to be with his family and it is until January when the planning of the referees for the new season begins.

“Well, for me eh all these years what I like to do when the season is over, I get home, I wash the dirty equipment, I put it away where I can’t see it, because mentally I need to retire from baseball, one ends up tired, physically, but I think more mentally because it is difficult not to work and long”.

“Imagine from the end of February until November, well, until thank God we get to work those games, but I get home, I wash all that, I put it away where I can’t see it, I completely retire from the sport, I enjoy my wife, our children, my mom and dad’s family, and at the end of January is when I mentally start to think about baseball,” he added.