How one blown strike call in Game 5 illustrates MLB's need for robot umps

WASHINGTON -- The dawn of the robot umpire is near, and it is time. Game 5 of the World Series exemplified this. Home-plate umpire Lance Barksdale actually called a decent game by the current standards for umpires, but the combination of a timely blown call and a hot-mic video of his rationale behind another poor judgment illustrated why automated balls and strikes must be part of baseball's future sooner than later.

Nobody in the Washington Nationals' clubhouse would say as much on the record, not after their third consecutive loss, a 7-1 clubbing by the Houston Astros, who took a 3-2 series lead and have two chances to clinch a championship at home. There is baseball left, and so long as…