SAN RAFAEL, Calif. (KTVU) - The Tuesday night matchup between two minor league Bay Area baseball teams made history.
When the San Rafael Pacifics hosted the Vallejo Admirals at Albert Park, it was the first game where an automated strike zone was put to the test.
Any umpire will tell you, it's tough to judge a 90-mph pitch.
Sometimes an ump can miss by an inch or two or more.
The new technology is meant to make calls on the field more consistent.
Former Oakland A's outfielder, Eric Byrnes, said the robot umpire is long overdue.
"This is going to level the playing field a little bit and eventually it’s going to boost offense as well," he said.
Brynes was on hand in San Rafael, announcing the computer results to the crowd.
A camera in center field adjusts the strike zone based on the height of the hitter.
Several other cameras mounted to the stands then track the ball 40-to-50 times from the moment it's released from the pitcher's hand, until it crosses home plate.
At that point it will either be called a ball or a strike.
"You're going to see more high strikes called and you're probably going to see more low strikes called and you will not see anything called off the plate," Byrnes said.
Pitchers admit they'll need to change things up.
"You don't want to try to get away from your game too much, you want to stick with what your strengths are," said San Rafael Pacifics Relief Pitcher Michael Kershner. "At the same time, you got to realize that certain pitches you are not going to get anymore and certain pitches you're going to get now that you didn't get before."
While some criticize removing a human element from one of the most traditional games in America, Brynes told KTVU Major League Baseball needs to adapt.
"The game is constantly evolving," he said. "I truly feel this is one of those things that is just going to help the game."
The technology will be tested again at Wednesday's Pacifics game.
Byrnes believes it's only a matter of time before we see an automated strike zone in the major leagues.