Sports

MLB Umpire Makes Truly Dreadful Call In Mets-Orioles Game To Show We Need Robot Umps

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Getty Image / Norm Hall


 

 

It’s hard to call balls and strikes at the Major League level. The pitches move so much, they have a ton of velocity, and catchers are experts at framing pitches to make them look like strikes.

It’s for that exact reason that we shouldn’t be relying on humans to call balls and strikes in a crucial game in the pennant race down the stretch. We saw exactly why we should have an automatic strike zone, or at least a challenge system, in the 8th inning of a big Orioles-Mets game.

Both the Mets and Orioles are in the thick of the playoff chase, with the Orioles coming into Wednesday tied for first in the AL East, and the Mets 2.5 games out of the last NL Wild Card spot behind the Braves.

New York led Baltimore 3-2 in the 8th inning with a runner on first for the Orioles. With the count 3-2, Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser took off for 2nd, Jose Butto’s pitch was in the strike zone, Mets catcher Luis Torrens threw Cowser out with ease, and the New York didn’t get an out on the play. Take a look.

That pitch wasn’t even borderline. It was a strike 100 out of 100 times. I’m not sure if Torrens coming out of his stance threw off home plate umpire Marvin Hudson. It may have, to be honest. That is understandable. But, it shouldn’t come down to that.

There’s no reason that MLB isn’t using the automatic strike zone that is in AAA right now. Currently, it’s not in use for every pitch for AAA games. Rather, each team has two or three challenges, depending on what AAA league they’re in of a ball/strike call they can use during a game. If they win the challenge, they keep it.

In this case, the Mets would’ve challenged and had a crucial double play. Instead, Baltimore ended up scoring a run in the inning on a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3.

That missed call could’ve had huge implications on the pennant race in both leagues. But, Mets deadline acquisition Joey Winker smacked a walk-off home run in the bottom of the 9th, giving the Mets their second walk-off homer in three days against Baltimore.

There’s going to be a blown ball/strike call that makes a huge difference in the stretch run and playoffs when it comes to determining a World Series champion. The fact that we have the technology to correct those calls and won’t implement it is ridiculous.