Nothing seemed to go right for the Los Angeles Angels in their 7-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Friday. They had to compete with the Rangers as well as their own miscues. And when things seemed to be going well for the Halos, the umpires got in the way.
With the Angels trailing 2-1 in the seventh inning, Phil Gosselin came to the plate with two outs and a runner on second base. When Martín Pérez’s 3-2 pitch came in well below the strike zone, Gosselin appeared to draw a walk. Only, home plate umpire Carlos Torres didn’t see it that way and rang Gosselin up.
Phil Gosselin gets rung up on ball four and the entire Angels team cannot believe it. pic.twitter.com/0rwRoNLU2F
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 30, 2022
The diplomatic approach here is to say that Pérez’s pitch had a lot of movement — which is true. But that doesn’t exonerate Torres here.
The movement might be a valid excuse in a different situation.
For one, the call needs to be closer. This was well out of the zone.
Did we actually find a WORSE Umpire than Angel Hernandez?
This baseball is two baseballs below the Zone! pic.twitter.com/slZnr3UHck— Roger Lodge (@RogerLodge7) July 30, 2022
Two, the movement needs to take the ball through the strike zone as it’s close to the plate. That didn’t happen here. The ball was already well below the plate when it crossed and it was still sinking. So, the movement makes Torres’ call worse, not more understandable.
As has been the case with the umpires this season, the MLB world was not forgiving of this miscue.
Joe West: "I'm the worst Umpire in the MLB!"
Ángel Hernández: "No, I'm the worst Umpire in the MLB!"
Carlos Torres: Umping Rangers v. Angels pic.twitter.com/K9vW5syRep
— Joshua Gale (@joshuagale75) July 30, 2022
Carlos Torres has turned the strike zone into something of a writhing ghost hive tonight pic.twitter.com/rvQgEqt4yk
— Levi Weaver (@ThreeTwoEephus) July 30, 2022
Carlos Torres has been awful tonight. Can think of three or four brutal calls on both sides. pic.twitter.com/PqhQaMSC87
— Alex Plinck🏳️🌈 (@aplinckTX) July 30, 2022
ROBOT. UMPS. NOW. https://t.co/PChkKc4e07
— Rick (@rpassmore87) July 30, 2022
Every single day. Get rid of the umps. https://t.co/fOJXknxpT4
— 稔さん01 (@mxnxrxsan01) July 30, 2022
Unfortunately, with the home stretch of the season looming, we’re getting close to a point where bad calls can potentially alter postseason races and even the playoffs. So, if you think the criticism of MLB umpires and the calls for an automated strike zone have been loud to this point, imagine what will happen if these issues persist in the coming weeks.
