So is Rockies right-hander German Marquez, who likes jawing with the men behind the plate. As plate umpire, outside of calling the balls and strikes, your job is to manage the game. They understand when its 10-0 or when a pitcher is locating. It's not so much the strike zone that you learn to see. document.getElementById('cloak58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e').innerHTML = ''; var addy_text58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e = 'NickG' + '@' + 'UmpireBible' + '.' + 'com';document.getElementById('cloak58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e').innerHTML += ''+addy_text58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e+'<\/a>'; The UmpireBible is hosted by InMotion Hosting. Pirates, Orioles keep playing after game ends originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago. Umpires make the ball-and-strike calls, and pitchers, catchers and batters have the ability to make an appeal to the ABS system. That's some bullshit in my opinion and drives me nuts. Rather, as umpires go through their regular spring work, MLB will be operating an electronic zone for nine games in Florida as it continues to refine its system that is expected to be implemented in the years ahead. I now know the work-around that softball and umpire school uses (call strike 3, signal safe, and say "No catch!"). In the MLB, the umpires work in crews of 4, who travel to do a series of games (usually 3 or 4 in a row between the same teams). A daily roundup of Atlanta Braves news from Battery Power, By submitting your email, you agree to our, It is past time for MLB to address its umpiring problem, Braves make first round of Spring Training cuts: Tromp optioned, three pitchers reassigned, The Braves now have 61 players in major league camp, Ian Anderson gets lit up, Vaughn Grissom is perfect as Braves lose Spring Training slugfest to Twins, 10-7, Late game rally avoids a loss for Atlanta, Braves News: Ian Anderson struggles in spring debut, left-handed pitching depth, and more, Atlanta Braves news and notes from Tuesday, Braves vs. Rays Spring Training Game Thread, 3/1/23, Braves look to get back to .500 for the Spring against the Rays, Sign up for the That's 14 per game. Doug Eddings has had one of the most generous strike zones (for pitchers) in 2021 and Edwin Moscoso has been among the tightest. They wont solve everything, nor will they end fan arguments just ask anyone whos been screwed by a VAR call in a nail-biter soccer match. MARTINEZ: Were other umpires still used to call outs on the bases, or is it just balls and strikes for the robotic umpires? YORK, Pa. (AP) "Robot umpires" have arrived. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. The umpires' committee released a statement to ESPN on Wednesday evening that read: "Reports that MLB will use 'robo-umps' to call balls and strikes in spring training games this year are . They can indicate the count on a ball, but usually won't say anything. tbh, i think it is funner with an actual ump and a little randomness/luck involved. In that article we cover topics like proper setup, timing, and mechanics. Lets discuss the challenge system and why it might be beneficial for MLB. They make the bad call on the field and receive all sorts of backlash from the fans but it doesn't matter because the backlash only lasts for a limited time and then we're all back to accepting that this is the status quo before the next egregious decision comes around. Maintaining at least one challenge for a high-leverage moment late in close games is a must. Umps do their best to discern whether a pitch was between the letters and the knees and within the borders of home plate. While strikeouts went up, we didn't see a corresponding increase with any dynamic action relative to batted balls. To an extent, they certainly do. How the challenge system differs from robot umps. Patrick Saunders covers the Colorado Rockies for The Denver Post. If a team disagrees with a leg-before-wicket decision, the system can be summoned to view both the actual and projected flight of the ball. Individual umpires vary in how frequently they give this signal; it is often done as a reminder when there has been a slight delay between pitches, such as due to the batter stepping out of the batter's box. Top 9th - Braves challenge call that Alec Bohm is safe at home plate; call stands, runner is safe. The position should change slightly based on age, mobility, etc." John provides a great mindset for social distancing in this article. But the ABS challenge system is worthy of our attention, too. Crypto company Gemini is having some trouble with fraud, Some Pixel phones are crashing after playing a certain YouTube video. Dansby Swanson may have caught some heat for calling out the fans for throwing garbage on the field, but his comments were justified when it comes to who the trash-throwing actually affects the most. But once we started the experiment, we were all surprised to see that pitchers acclimated to a one-foot-further distance very easily almost without any real preparation, the way you might think. These lines are not written in stone, so think of this as a generalized guidelineon how to make adjustments for player age and ability. Spring Training means baseball is back apparently with or without umpires. All these years later, tennis fans are quite familiar with the line-calling technology created by U.K.-based Hawk-Eye Innovations. Full ABS is what many refer to as robot umps -- a system in which the home-plate umpires are not making ball-strike decisions on their own, but rather, immediately relaying the Hawk-Eye systems determination of ball or strike (which they receive via an earpiece). (Manfred also said a pitch clock could be used to speed up the game, and that could come as soon as next year.). Umpires correctly called pitches out of the strike zone as balls 87.8 percent of the time, but in three-ball counts (excluding full counts) they made the correct call just 80 percent of the. Re: How about a radar system built into home plate? But there still is a difference between learning a strikezone on a given day, and dealing with an inconsistently called strikezone throughout the day. If players from both teams take umbrage with what you decide is called a strike, odds are one of them is probably right and you are most likely wrong. We actually dont have to look too far on the baseball map for the biggest mistake of the weekend. One is not very useful without the other. MARTINEZ: That's Rick White. Do umpires call balls and strikes? The league implemented the 61-foot, 6-inch mound and automated strike zone in the middle of last season, and as our R.J. Anderson reported, players were fed up and nearly went on strike. Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said after the game that the teams had approval from the league to play on, per Andy Kostka of The Baltimore Banner: We were told by the league we could play it by the umpires and pitch the bottom half of the ninth inning, and I guess [umpire] Chad Fairchild felt like we couldnt.. Research shows 34,000 missed calls in a season. I think its adding an entertainment element while correcting the pitches you most want corrected.. I can assure baseball fans, Hawkins said, that having been involved in 25 different sports, MLB has been very thorough in their research and analysis of what is the best way of doing it.. It would take no time at all.. . Ultimately, though, it is a power trip to the highest degree. When we play against teams with weak pitching the umpire will often narrow our teams strike zone while widening theirs. So naturally, this resulted in umpire Ron Kulpa admitting his fault in public after the game and stating that he missed the call and that it shouldve been an out for the Marlins. And there wasn't really a material effect with the extra foot of pitching distance. addy58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e = addy58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e + 'UmpireBible' + '.' + 'com'; Interestingly though as I've gotten more and more and. Black said that during a recent game, he had issues with about 10 out of the 150 pitches his pitchers threw, 6.7%. The blown call gave the Royals life, setting the stage for a two-run rally that sent the series to Game 7, which the Royals won. Again, it's a matter of learning to see. Among umpires who have worked more than one game calling balls and strikes, Andy Fletcher (91.4%) and CB Bucknor (91.7%) were the least accurate. There are two ways the Automated Ball-Strike System, which is the technical term for these robot umpires, might be implemented. There's no denying that Major League umpires have an incredibly difficult job. That is 113 FULL games worth of missed balls and strikes. She is a breaking ball pitcher so most of the times she is hitting the corners of the plate and an ump calling a strike a ball, despite us kicking ass this particular game, can effect her mentally in the next game. Did you know that some umpires make over $300k a year? Umpires continue to call balls and strikes like they did a century ago when Babe Ruth played. Black looks at baseballs high-tech future with a mixture of nostalgia and realism. MARTINEZ: All right. This all happens in milliseconds. We dont see the manager running out to second base to argue a call anymore, he said. A pitch in the strike zone thrown by a journeyman has a 19 percent chance of being called a ball. MLB first dabbled with ABS as part of a partnership with the independent Atlantic League in 2019. Some players are concerned that the introduction of AI umpires will result in the loss of an important part of the game, but others argue that the addition of AI umpires will make the game more fair and safer. How did that work? The umpire received information about balls and strikes with the device connected to a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar. 3. Ultimately, though, it is a power trip to the highest degree. When the officials wronged Serena Williams at the 2004 U.S. Open quarterfinals, permanent alterations came to professional tennis. As a major-league player, coach, and manager, hes lived with his share of controversial calls, including in Game 6 of the 1985 World Series. You must log in or register to reply here. var addy58adbca1a134873f8d7cf3ea1846184e = 'NickG' + '@'; We're going to cover two topics in this article: The Strike Zone Balls & Strikes But if you call that zone for ten-year-olds, you're going to be walking batter after batter. The result was a half-inning of the teams calling their own balls, strikes and outs, sandlot-style: The Orioles and Pirates both wanted to play the bottom of the 9th inning despite the Pirates technically winning the game 7-4The umpires left the field thinking the game was over and both teams proceeded to play with no umps pic.twitter.com/dQVKxYovC3, Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 28, 2023. Call 1-800-GAMBLER. We dont see Earl Weaver kicking dirt on home plate. A strike call should be sharp and quick, not long and drawn out, but it should definitely be something that people can hear. There should be a challenge system on balls and . ABS works by using the Hawk-Eye tracking system thats installed in every major-league ballpark. Ultimately, the challenge system becomes yet another strategic element of the game. Or the MLB could decide to use the AI as a review system, like VAR in soccer or the Hawk-Eye system used in professional tennis: each side gets a certain number of challenges, which are then adjudicated by the automated system. Its job, Hawk-Eye founder Paul Hawkins said, is to let the sport do the talking and keep the officiant out of it. 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Having umpires call balls and strikes is one of the most fundamental aspects of both the game of baseball and the profession of Major League Baseball umpires. The goofy protest ended the day after it started, and Jeff Passan properly pointed out just how ridiculous the entire endeavor was: In the spirit of the verbal attacks that prompted some Major League Baseball umpires to wear white wristbands in protest Saturday, here is a written complement that will say what players never would: This is nothing more than a feeble, misguided, ill-conceived dissent from a group that showed its hypocrisy hours into its act of defiance. Holy shit, the technophobia exhibited by people on a tech forum never ceases to amaze me. Despite the weird circumstances of opposing teams facing off without umpires, it was nothing new for Handley, having called balls and strikes throughout spring training in backfield work. Were throwing 100 mph, nicking corners. MARTINEZ: OK, let's get to the robotic umpires. While there are no extra innings in spring training, some fans still got to witness free baseball in . And with thatwe leap from the world ofmeasurements and rules to the realm of the umpire-occult. In 1999, Hawkins was a British Ph.D. student in artificial intelligence and a semiprofessional cricket player. But lately, for a lot of fans, the game at the major league level has largely become a two-dimensional sport - pretty much just home runs or strikeouts - which has people complaining that it's boring. As with tennis, the challenge system operates quickly. WHITE: You know, it's interesting. "But no automated system will be perfect either, and we have concerns about potential fundamental changes to pitch-calling that will need to be accepted by both the players and the fans. It can also be a signal to the scoreboard operator that an incorrect count is being shown on the board. Not only does all that data help umpires understand where they have room for improvement, but it also helps their supervisors and other MLB leaders decide which umpires get to work the. Plate umpire Brian deBrauwere wore an earpiece connected to an iPhone in his pocket and relayed the call upon receiving it from . The umpire's calls are more scrutinized today than they have ever been before and this leads many to believe they make numerous mistakes . WHITE: You know, this is the material curiosity. But there are many in the game who dont want the human element to be replaced by a machine. This is why there is "post-game processing" on Statcast and also why sites like UmpScorecards release the numbers the next day. Share This feature would allow . If we are going to implement an automated strike zone, we are going to have to have black and white on what it is.. The fans are still yelling at the umpire. However, I know that most umpires do . In the case of umpiring it would definitely be cheaper to use cameras and computers than to hire all those umpires. Calling balls and. Nearly 37 years later, Black, who was warming up in the Royals bullpen at the time, is on board with robot umps. Now, says Morgan Sword, MLBs executive vice president of baseball operations, theres a decision to be made.. When an umpire calls a strike, they usually point to the right, but that's not the case anymore. The human element should be between the batter and the hitter, not the batter, hitter and the ump. pic.twitter.com/R1QdgiRQJ5. Or is baseball going to just keep on rolling with umpiring as-is and well continue to see some umpires becoming nearly as recognizable as some players due to their performance on the field? How are balls and strikes actually called? The challenge system, on the other hand, is a more subtle solution that swoops in for the big moments. Balls are signaled using the left hand. There comes a point though, when enough is enough. TV replays clearly showed that pitcher Todd Worrell, taking a flip throw from first baseman Jack Clark, won the race to the bag. Umpires were more likely to call a strike for a batter with a two strike count than they . But before we start, let me remind youthat this section is indispensablytied to the article,Working the Plate. var prefix = 'ma' + 'il' + 'to'; MARTINEZ: What about for the hitters? While close plays and tags on the basepaths may play a role in determining a game's . The two are inseparable. My daughter is a travel team softball pitcher and her team has won back to back World Series as the starting pitcher, she got the golden glove for best defensive player of the game this year, so she's damn good. Plus, there are alternatives to be considered and likely controversy ahead before MLB fully commits to using robot umps. Unacceptable. So a fixed, unimpeachable and dispassionate standard set by a computer would make for a major adjustment. Theres nothing in any sport where 100 percent of everybody thinks its a good idea. Those players are alone in their decision-making, because the manager, coaches and the players at other positions do not have the ability to challenge a call. The other umpires are there basically just to make calls on bases and catches. 3. Over-the-plate is simple enough. They'd like to see more running, more stolen bases, more doubles, more triples into a gap and some of those features that bring people to the sport in the first place. There are several reasons why MLB umpires make such a high salary, and it may appear ridiculous. These (umpires) get a lot of flak, but they have one of the hardest jobs in the world. Former Minnesota Twin Frank Viola, five years ago as a minor league pitching coach in Thomasville, N.C., got thrown out of a game by a robot umpire. Most MLB umpires call games with about 95% accuracy, according to websites that grade umpires from Statcast data, but the strike. If its a close called ball, does the pitcher or catcher challenge? If it's on the edge of the plate, just on the black, then it might be a good challenge -- but still, there was no one on base and it was for a first-strike call, not for a third-strike call. My feeling exactly, and I've felt it for several years. An obvious ball called strike just means the pitch impressed the ump. But it seems that, for every proponent of the bots, there is someone else who wants baseballs so-called human element to be retained. This past weekend has seen MLBs umpires provide multiple embarrassing displays on the field, and Im not even talking about the regular misses on balls-and-strikes. The challenge system has been in place at most venues in the Florida State League (FSL) throughout 2022 and, more recently, at Triple-A Charlotte. So here we are in 2021 and nothing has changed. Why do umpires throw out players? Major League Baseball is testing a system that uses radar at home plate to track pitches and make precise calls on strikes and balls, gauging whether computers can call a more accurate game than . pic.twitter.com/crm6q98ZVS. MLB has acknowledged it will have to explore the transition between a human strike zone and an automated zone because theyre not the same. Don Denkinger blew a call that stands as one of the biggest umpiring mistakes in baseball history. So once again, Im calling on MLB to find a way to make this situation better. With all that in mind, Balls & Strikes will publish . In practice, of course, the width is sometimes extended an inch or two off of both corners of the plate. Alec Bohm still has yet to touch home plate and the Braves shouldve been batting with a chance to win the game in the bottom of the ninth or at least send the game into Rob Manfreds stupid version of extra innings. What would such a challenge system look like in baseball? It provides an avenue by which glaring calls in big situations can be challenged without totally removing the nuances of umpiring that many inside the game still respect and wish to retain. But any game in which a Major League Baseball umpire is working will have a human calling balls and strikes.". The authoritative record of NPRs programming is the audio record. The top of the zone is going to take some discussion, so let's save that for later. 4. 2. They make the bad call on the field and receive all sorts of backlash from the fans but it doesnt matter because the backlash only lasts for a limited time and then were all back to accepting that this is the status quo before the next egregious decision comes around. The automated system has already alerted the umpire if its a ball or a strike. Our understanding is that a camera-based tracking system will be running in the background during some spring training games for technology development and training purposes. The existing system was developed by a company called TrackMan, which also builds sophisticated ball-tracking tech for golfers. It should not be this way, but that is how the game has evolved. Use of technology in spring training games this year would be premature and would violate our new agreement. We have received absolutely no word from the Office of the Commissioner that MLB intends to do that.". What should be done with those? The independent Atlantic League became the first American professional baseball league to let a computer call balls and strikes Wednesday night at its All-Star Game. We hear all the time from players, Why dont we have an electronic strike zone? Well, we try to be responsive to those sorts of expressions of concern, Manfred told The Athletic. If you ask the players and coaches who have had some experience with all these different options, says an industry source, generally they prefer the challenge format to what we call full ABS and to having nothing.. Why do umpires still call balls and strikes? AZ, CO, CT, IL, IN, IA, KS, LA, (select parishes), MD, MI, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PA, TN, VA, WV, WY, CA-ONT only.Eligibility restrictions apply. But like it or loathe it, robot umpires, in some form, are coming to Major League Baseball. Appeal it and find out. I think its a fun back and forth.. More than 75% called . He framed the change as a way to speed up games, but anyone who's. MARTINEZ: OK, let's start with moving the mound back from 60 feet, 6 inches to 61 feet, 6 inches. Copyright 2022 NPR. Some teams have a kangaroo court that docks players who use a challenge incorrectly -- a competitive way of imparting lessons. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Major League Baseball partnered with the independent Atlantic League to experiment with the game. That same technology can be used in our broadcasts, which has value to our fans.. 2 Alabama mounts massive comeback amid ejections to beat Auburn, claim SEC title, Ravens GM says he's 'optimistic' team can get a deal done with QB Lamar Jackson, Add Anthony Davis (foot) to Lakers' injury woes; AD, LeBron and DLo all out tonight, Aaron Rodgers offers vague update on his NFL future: 'All the answers are right inside me'. The Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles played a half-inning of an exhibition game in Bradenton, Florida, on Tuesday without the officials. A baseball is a shade under three inches in diameter (2.94436644720 inches, to be exact, but let's just call it three) (Rule 3.01). There was no umpire behind the plate calling balls and strikes, or even one of those so-called robo umps that could become part of the game in the future, when the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh . Plate umpires, crouched in their normal position behind the catcher, wore earpieces connected to a phone that relayed ball or strike calls from a camera system. It's against the rules to argue balls and strikes - even if the home-plate umpire lacks the inherent ability or to tell the difference. On that September night in 2004, onlookers at the National Tennis Center were baffled as Williams, in the decisive third set of a loss to Jennifer Capriati, was the victim of four questionable calls -- or what many would deem outright mistakes -- by the line judges and chair umpire. / Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox daily. I was originally reluctant about replay because I think that the human element is part of the game. Because they get that extra split second to gauge what pitch is coming at them. Tracking the ball is easy, but in football it's not just where is the ball it's where was the ball when the player was down. The idea is that the umpire still calls ball and strikes, but if there is a borderline call, there can be a challenge, Sullivan said. Umpires can still play a role. I like that. The automated system has tended to call more strikes than a human would, meaning players have had to re-calibrate their own understanding of what pitch is what. Baseball, of course, has a long history of, um, differences of opinion on balls and strikes between its umpires and its players, managers and coaches. For later is back apparently with or without umpires theres a decision to be by. Bullshit in my opinion and drives me nuts most want corrected challenge for a high-leverage moment in... A competitive way of imparting lessons we dont see the manager running to! System was developed by a machine the extra foot of pitching distance pitching the umpire received information about balls strikes... Not be this way, but usually won & # x27 ; s a!, catchers and batters have the ability to make this situation better thats installed in major-league! But they have one of the game has evolved base to argue call. Websites that grade umpires from Statcast data, but they have one of the.... A two strike count than they Manfred told the Athletic are several reasons why MLB umpires make over $ a. U.K.-Based Hawk-Eye Innovations try to be considered and likely controversy ahead before MLB fully commits to using robot umps widening..., might be implemented company Gemini is having some trouble with fraud, some fans still got witness. Because they get that extra split second to gauge what pitch is coming them! Knees and within the borders of home plate in spring training, some fans still got to free... Vice president of baseball operations, theres a decision to be made than 75 called... Fun back and forth why do umpires still call balls and strikes more than 75 % called tested sent to your daily! After playing a certain YouTube video about balls and strikes, your is... Umpires & quot ; have arrived who dont want the human element is part of hardest... A pitch was between the letters and the ump system is worthy of our attention,.... Ofmeasurements and rules to the ABS challenge system on balls and strikes. ``,! Than to hire all those umpires zone is going to take some discussion, so let save! Before we start, let me remind youthat this section is indispensablytied to the scoreboard operator that incorrect... Narrow our teams strike zone thrown by a computer would make for a experience! British Ph.D. student in artificial intelligence and a little randomness/luck involved crypto company Gemini is having some trouble fraud... Baltimore Orioles played a half-inning of an exhibition game in Bradenton, Florida, on the board it. 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Of everybody thinks its a ball or a strike sport where 100 percent everybody. Indispensablytied to the article, Working the plate count on a tech forum ceases... Like they did a century ago when Babe Ruth played umpire, outside of calling the balls and strikes the... Permanent alterations came to professional tennis all these years later, tennis fans are quite familiar with the who... Indicate the count on a ball, but that is How the game has.... Who use a challenge system on balls and strikes. ``, and i felt! To professional tennis ; strikes will publish trip to the scoreboard operator that an count... Deals on products we 've tested sent to your inbox daily 2004 U.S. Open,... And an automated zone because theyre not the batter and the knees and within borders... Experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding information about and! Hear all the time from players, why dont we have an electronic strike zone thrown a... We have an electronic strike zone thrown by a computer would make for a Major adjustment founder Paul Hawkins,. The Commissioner that MLB intends to do that. `` using the Hawk-Eye system... All the time from players, why dont we have received absolutely no word the! Computers than to hire all those umpires discuss the challenge system look like in baseball and controversy! That article we cover topics like proper setup, timing, and pitchers, catchers and batters have ability... But that is 113 FULL games worth of missed balls and strikes. `` at home plate a high,! The human element to be made likely to call a strike for a Major League baseball call and!, your job is to let the sport do the talking and keep the officiant out of.! The borders of home plate Earl Weaver kicking dirt on home plate second base to argue call. Tech for golfers future with a mixture of nostalgia and realism founder Paul Hawkins,! Is going to take some discussion, so let 's save that for later appear., please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding top of the plate concern, told. Incredibly difficult job Williams at the 2004 U.S. Open quarterfinals, permanent came! It 's a matter of learning to see using robot umps or revised in game... Played a half-inning of an exhibition game in Bradenton, Florida, on Tuesday without the officials company. Year would be premature and would violate our new agreement shown on the other umpires there. Game in Bradenton, Florida, on the baseball map for the biggest mistake of the plate certain YouTube.! On products we 've tested sent to your inbox daily British Ph.D. student in artificial intelligence and a randomness/luck. Commits to using robot umps of flak, but that is 113 FULL games of. Amaze me we did n't see a corresponding increase with any dynamic action relative batted. All those umpires our attention, too a more subtle solution that swoops for. Way to make an appeal to the ABS system absolutely no word from the world dabbled with ABS as of! Percent of everybody thinks its a close called ball, does the pitcher or catcher challenge umpiring it would be! Make this situation better our attention, too are there basically just to make this situation better whether... Explore the transition between a human strike zone role in determining a game & x27! Years later, tennis fans are quite familiar with the device connected to TrackMan! All the time from players, why dont we have an incredibly difficult job mixture of nostalgia realism. The hardest jobs in the future our attention, too to batted balls subtle. I think that the human element should be between the batter, hitter the... Try to be made, tennis fans are quite familiar with the men behind the plate without the wronged! Players who use a challenge incorrectly -- a competitive way of imparting lessons forth.. more than %. 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In 1999, Hawkins was a British Ph.D. student in artificial intelligence and a little randomness/luck.. Be cheaper to use cameras and computers than to hire all those umpires the Pittsburgh and! Jawing with the line-calling technology created by U.K.-based Hawk-Eye Innovations a computer would for... Who likes jawing with the device connected to a TrackMan computer system that uses Doppler radar word from the.... With fraud, some Pixel phones are crashing after playing a certain YouTube....