Yankees and Red Sox fans agree on one thing: Apple TV’s ump cam sucks
There aren't many things that bring New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox fans together. The ump cam on Apple TV+ is one of them.
Friday Night Baseball featuring the Yankees and Red Sox also featured a heavy dose of the POV cam from behind the plate.
Sure, it's a cool angle that the vast majority of baseball fans never get to experience in real life. That doesn't mean it needs to be one of the main angles fans see on an MLB broadcast. There is such a thing as too much of a sort-of good thing.
Fans watching the broadcast were ready to put on their Karen hair wigs and ask to speak to the manager.
Yankees and Red Sox fans both hate the ump cam
Yanks miss an opportunity in the 1st but hey, shoutout the broadcast for making it seem like a grand slam off the bat pic.twitter.com/gXGHOc5I4o
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 13, 2024
One ump cam shot in a game is too many. Two every batter should be a criminal offense
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 13, 2024
I’d really appreciate it if @appletv would stop using the ump cam for live pitches. Based loaded, 2 outs and a 3-1 count is not a great time to go to a view where you really can’t tell what the hell happened.
— Martin Moore (@martin_j_moore) September 13, 2024
Ump cam every single 2 strike pitch is driving me crazy. And the one umpire who’s actually famous for something, we can’t see him when he does it.
— Pancake27 (@wadebregade14) September 14, 2024
These Apple TV+ cuts to ump cam could not have been timed worse so far tonight. Gotta have some feel for the game situation if you’re directing this broadcast.
— Leo Tesler (@lnyc194) September 13, 2024
Need someone to rig the ump cam button to give a rigorously painful electric shock every time its pushed
— Dan Rourke (@DanAlanRourke) September 13, 2024
The consensus is this: The ump cam would be great for replays. It should never be used for live pitches.
It shouldn't be that difficult to understand. The behind the pitcher angle is the optimal view for fans at home to see the pitch. It's the standard for broadcasting baseball games for a reason. Don't fix what isn't broken.
Fans may want to see things through different eyes at times but the most important thing people want during live play is to know what's going on. The ump cam gets in the way of that.
It's also disorienting to many, causing motion sickness and other negative feelings. Does Apple realize they risk losing viewers with this gimmick? Apparently not.
After a home run or a big strikeout on a gnarly sinker, go right ahead and give fans the ump cam view. Just don't make it hard to know what's going on.
Broadcasts want to use their new fancy toys. We get it. Abusing the technology is the problem.
Do better Apple TV+. Please.
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