ESPN has decided to show a virtual strike zone box for every pitch of every game that they televise this year. ESPN should reverse this decision because their "K-Zone Live" is distracting and inaccurate.

The Permanent Strike Zone Box is Distracting

It is located right at the focal point of action.You can't help but stare at it because it lights up with cross-hairs over the ball on every, single, pitch. For the majority of pitches, K-Zone is completely unnecessary and gets in the way. ESPN should consider only using it as a tool during replays where its application is relevant. If they really feel compelled to use K-Zone for every pitch, they could at least place it off to the side of the screen, as is commonly done on some of the other major networks.

K-Zone is Inaccurate

The strike zone changes with every batter. While ESPN claims to factor that into their graphic, K-Zone's adaptiveness is limited. The MLB official rule book states that, "The umpire shall determine the Strike Zone according to the batter's usual stance when he swings at a pitch." Thus, to an extent, the boundaries of the strike zone are subjective. Also, it is an important (yet unwritten) truism in baseball that every umpire has a slightly different strike zone. This is a crucial strategic aspect of the game, as teams often pitch different ways depending on who's behind the plate. Umpires also have a tradition of expanding or contracting a strike zone depending on the situation. A pitcher in the 7th inning of a perfect game, for example, usually "earns" a slightly more favorable strike zone. These fluctuations are part of the game, and they're part of what makes baseball so great.

"K-Zone Live" hinders the enjoyment and authenticity of watching a baseball game on ESPN. This needs to stop!