Over the past few Major League Baseball seasons, there has been a lot of conversation about potentially using technology to call balls and strikes instead of a human home plate umpire. It sure didn’t take long for those calls to reignite this season.
Just three days into the MLB season, an umpire got absolutely blasted for a horrible call during the first inning of Saturday’s game between the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies.
With two outs and a 2-2 count, Braves pitcher Max Fried threw a fastball right down the middle that should have been the third strike and ended the inning. Instead, it was called a ball. The Phillies went on to score three more runs and take the lead in what should have been a scoreless inning for Fried. He was subsequently removed from the game before he could even finish the inning.
Here is the 2-2 pitch that preceded the Castellanos bases-loaded walk. Fried would have escaped the inning unscathed. Now he exits having recorded just two outs and with the Phillies leading 3-2 in the first. pic.twitter.com/UEPVxElp6s
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 30, 2024
“Here is the 2-2 pitch that preceded the Castellanos bases-loaded walk. Fried would have escaped the inning unscathed. Now he exits having recorded just two outs and with the Phillies leading 3-2 in the first,” Braves beat writer Mark Bowman said in a post on X, the social media website that was formerly known as Twitter.
Needless to say, the umpire got absolutely blasted for the horrible call.
This really is a perfect example of how a challenge system would be helpful to everyone, including the umpire: https://t.co/i7M0QKk3BV
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) March 30, 2024
It’s day 2 of the Braves’ 2024 season and I already have my torch and pitchfork out https://t.co/ltk6MX3NUi
— Auburn Basketball ? (@sheabooskyy) March 30, 2024
So now Max is out of the game… and it’s 3-2… because an umpire made an absolutely horrific call. Like you just changed the game on a ridiculous call! #BravesCountry https://t.co/C1jDT90C22
— Anna Huffstutler (@A_Huffstutler) March 30, 2024
Max did not get any help here. This is minor league. Terrible. https://t.co/G9t6OrXU7i
— buck belue (@buckbelue8) March 30, 2024
How did Fried not throw a fit here. I would have lost my mind https://t.co/1NB4FBLDz8
— Jonny (@JonnyHeller) March 30, 2024
Example. Ump should be fired in between innings https://t.co/MzqiT6Zq81
— Butch Worley (@butchworley) March 30, 2024
The good news is, it didn’t seem to hurt the Braves too much as they went on to score five runs in the next two innings to take a commanding lead. But it was still a horrible call.
