The Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks opened up a four-game series on Thursday that could have significant ramifications on the National League Central race for the Reds and the NL Wild Card race for both teams. The Diamondbacks were victorious in the opener, with a little help from an awful call.
After Arizona’s star rookie Corbin Carroll drilled a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Diamondbacks up 3-2, Cincinnati’s rookie phenom, Elly De La Cruz had a chance to answer, leading off the top of the ninth. De La Cruz and Arizona closer, Paul Sewald, were in a battle. It was a 2-2 count in an at-bat that had already gone nine pitches. On pitch No. 10, things got interesting. And if you’re cheering for the Reds, things got even more frustrating.
Sewald’s offering appeared to be well outside. But umpire C.B. Bucknor — the only person at Chase Field whose opinion on the pitch truly mattered — called it a strike.
Elly De La Cruz introduced to the C. B. Bucknor experience in the 9th inning of a 1-run game (that has big NL Wild Card implications). ⚾️👮♂️ pic.twitter.com/A0q3DJgrnu
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 25, 2023
While De La Cruz was clearly unhappy with the call, his reaction was relatively modest. The same can’t be said for people who were watching the game.
Umpiring in general has been a source of increased frustration from fans for a while. While he doesn’t have the same notoriety as Ángel Hernández or the now-retired Joe West, Bucknor has been a particularly frustrating umpire for a while.
That showed in people’s reactions to this call.
Here's the pitch. This is not a strike. In a playoff chase. this is so frustrating. https://t.co/PCPm5jAT6A
— Troy Hyde (@troyhyde44) August 25, 2023
C.B. Bucknor called strike three on this pitch to Elly in the 9th inning in a one run game in a playoff race.
Be better @mlb. Be better.
What a joke. #Reds pic.twitter.com/3gaaznJ2xJ
— Reds Daily (@RedsDaily4) August 25, 2023
An experience literally no one but C.B. Bucknor enjoys. https://t.co/fvGNm9ceac
— Dave Radcliffe (@DaveRadcliffe_) August 25, 2023
Lol CB Bucknor cannot be serious with pitch 10 in the ninth inning pic.twitter.com/XPWlHfSxmk
— ATBBTTR (@ATBBTTR) August 25, 2023
CB Bucknor shouldn’t be allowed to umpire a tee-ball game. https://t.co/X2x8DEsMLb
— Stacey with an e (@StaceGots) August 25, 2023
This is horse crap https://t.co/3LOmVGZuJQ
— Kevin Winter (@KevinPWinter) August 25, 2023
ROBOT UMPS NOW pic.twitter.com/X1gOzTyjww
— Cincinnati 💔 (@CincyProblems) August 25, 2023
And for anyone who may want to dismiss the frustrations as coming mostly from frustrated Cincinnati fans, that was not the case. While they obviously were happy to get it, even the Diamondbacks announcers made no efforts to disguise Bucknor’s call as anything but a miss.
"Ooh boy, we'll take it. That's one of those sweepers that never was in the strike zone but, called Strike 3."
This is the Diamondbacks announce crew.pic.twitter.com/ZCIy01pHya https://t.co/x9ggGqjSPb
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 25, 2023
The frustration from fans is only going to continue. Fans have seen the Automated Balls and Strikes Challenge system in action at the Minor League level. It’s a quick process, similar to what tennis uses. And while an automated strike zone may bring other frustrations to hitters and pitchers alike, it will at least be more consistent.
This was a one-run game in a playoff race with a star player at the plate. Would he have homered? Would he have struck out on the next pitch? Who knows? What we do know is that a poor call robbed us of the chance to find out. That’s something baseball fans are growing increasingly sick of.
[Photo Credit: FS1]
