Between umpires forgetting counts again and again, calling pitchers for three balks in a single inning, and viral arguments with managers after egregious blown calls, it really hasn’t been a great year for umpires across Major League Baseball. Unfortunately, that reputation only got worse on Monday night.
During the top of the ninth inning of Monday night’s game between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Houston Astros, Phillies left fielder Kyle Schwarber tried to check his swing on a 1-2 pitch from Astros reliever Phil Maton. Based on their reactions, everyone involved on both teams seemed to think that Schwarber went around to swing at the pitch.
That is, except for third-base umpire Sean Barber.
After the pitch, home plate umpire Larry Vanover deferred to Barber to get the call – which everyone expected to be a strike. And as Schwarber was taking off his batting gear and the Astros were heading back to the dugout after an apparent strikeout, Barber shocked everybody by indicating that he did not go around.
Even Schwarber knew he went pic.twitter.com/JhofXDyv58
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 4, 2022
“Everybody in the ballpark thought he went except the umpire,” the commentator said after the checked swing.
It was the latest in a string of horrible errors from MLB umpires this season, and the baseball world had plenty to say about it on Twitter following the event.
Horrific look for the umpire here. https://t.co/uy11pb2ijj
— x – Oilers John 🇨🇦 ✈️ (@OilersJohn) October 4, 2022
Umpires are bad https://t.co/ofAxSQnRBj
— SdKameron (@SdKameron) October 4, 2022
oof lol https://t.co/QfnqboYDWH
— TL (@HiMyNameIsTL) October 4, 2022
My boy got the over. He tryna bring that run in lol https://t.co/r80OwgAarf
— k€n (@678k3n) October 4, 2022
So what happened. Did Schwarber get re-dressed and get another pitch or did everyone ignore the 3B ump and start the next inning?
— Carl Warner (@CarlRWarner) October 4, 2022
announcer laughing cause he knows these umpires are a joke
— 5546 (@thxlvda) October 4, 2022
Idk why the tweet doesnt show the full slow motion shot, but I ASSURE you he went. Clear as day. Im a Phils fan too
— Eagles {0-0} (@TwittaFinsta) October 4, 2022
The call ultimately proved pretty consequential in the at-bat as Schwarber walked to load the bases. However, Rhys Hoskins struck out immediately following the walk to end the inning.
