Bryce Harper was not part of Friday’s game between his Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies for a long time, as he was ejected in the first inning.
Fans, who have grown increasingly tired of the “ump show” in recent seasons, were not happy about it.
Harper struck out swinging to end the top of the first inning. Frustrated about a call earlier in the at-bat, Harper threw his helmet down after striking out, earning a fine for that. He continued the conversation with home plate umpire Brian Walsh. And while it didn’t seem like much more than a cordial conversation, Walsh gave Harper the thumb, ejecting him from the game.
Tom McCarthy and Ruben Amaro Jr. weigh in on Bryce Harper getting ejected in the first inning.
“It’s just way too early, if you’re the umpire, to do this.”
“He was just having a conversation with him. You have to have some feel for the game and understand.” pic.twitter.com/rjmT3iZYjc
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 25, 2024
For anyone who didn’t see it, this is the call that frustrated Harper. https://t.co/t9FoAvf6rE pic.twitter.com/EqeqqXmi0f
— The Comeback MLB (@thecomebackmlb) May 25, 2024
Naturally, Tom McCarthy and Ruben Amaro Jr., who were calling the game on NBC Sports Philadelphia, were upset and made their feelings known.
Baseball fans, frustrated with the continued ump show and knowing that people at Coors Field probably paid good money to see Harper play, did the same.
Some dad in Denver paid a lot of money to take his kid to see Bryce Harper on the Friday of Memorial Day Weekend and the ump does this? Come on—MLB needs to clean this up. They can be replaced with robots. 🤖 https://t.co/mznjx2BWRs
— Luke Russert (@LukeRussert) May 25, 2024
Ump show. https://t.co/xZ9XDlmGco
— Alex Smith (@AlexSmithSNY) May 25, 2024
the ump shows are becoming a nightly thing now https://t.co/1TIDezMf47
— fank (@dfank_BU) May 25, 2024
Congrats to everyone in Colorado who paid to see Brian Walsh call a below average game behind home plate instead of one of the best players of the generation. https://t.co/88fvgR0xGu
— Jack Levy (@jlevy34) May 25, 2024
#UmpShow. Again.
What is going on the last couple weeks? https://t.co/lMzskrD3UH— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) May 25, 2024
if you’re a fan who paid money to see Bryce Harper play in town only for an ump run him in the *first* inning then I’d be losing my mind https://t.co/l4PBuppSXF
— Nate Gilbert (@NateGilbert) May 25, 2024
What an idiot…the ump, not Harper. https://t.co/m4Idft6HzF
— OGhoopsprguy (@exhoopsPRguy) May 25, 2024
Hey @MLB. No one wants to watch this ref show. They want to watch Bryce Harper. https://t.co/HsoCXO6Xli
— Heath Capps (@HeathCapps) May 25, 2024
Once again, umpires, you’re doing too much. https://t.co/zU1idrISKJ
— Ben Ross (@BenRossTweets) May 25, 2024
[Photo Credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia]
