While most plays you’ll see in a Major League Baseball game are reviewable, check swings are not. That loomed large in Monday’s game between the Kansas City Royals and Boston Red Sox.
The score was tied 2-2 in the bottom of the ninth inning when Boston’s Luis Urías came to the plate with two outs and two runners on base. The 3-2 offering from Kansas City’s Carlos Hernández was high and Urías tried to check his swing. It looked as though Urías went around. So, it should have been an inning-ending strikeout. But on the appeal, first base umpire Vic Carapazza ruled that he checked his swing and walked.
And if Hernández retired the next hitter, Pablo Reyes, it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But that’s not what happened. Kansas City manager Matt Quatraro briefly argued the call. The game ended shortly after Quatraro left the field, as Reyes drilled the second pitch he saw from Hernández off of the Fisk Foul Pole in left field for a walk-off grand slam.
This was ruled a no swing with a full count and two outs in the bottom of the 9th
The next batter hit a walk-off grand slam pic.twitter.com/kTBe9lbBUI
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/BarnHasSpoken2/status/1688730565485199360
Quatraro took a fairly diplomatic approach after the game, though did make it clear that he disagreed with the call.
Quatraro on Vic Carapazza's check-swing call in the ninth inning: "Obviously, I thought he went. Vic makes the call. He's got the better angle, but I obviously disagree with that." #Royals pic.twitter.com/Q6MecFmaFB
— Bally Sports Kansas City (@BallySportsKC) August 8, 2023
Others were not as diplomatic.
Carapazza has been a central figure in multiple umpire controversies this year. And baseball fans were critical of his call on Monday night.
Bruh.. https://t.co/M5UqdSW8YU
— Sportsbook Consigliere (@SportsbkConsig) August 8, 2023
Yikes. This is bad https://t.co/lrbTBE1DS7
— Ryan Stieg (@RyanStieg) August 8, 2023
https://t.co/gW2AvgXPpj pic.twitter.com/ewPmIdtI7m
— Talkin’ Jake (@TalkinJake) August 8, 2023
That’s a swing… SMH 🤦🏾♂️ https://t.co/wO6sFF0Gqy
— Marcus Watkins (@MWatkins924) August 8, 2023
Remind me again why we need human umpires? https://t.co/XcjQYYlJmP
— Dan (@IrishFF44) August 8, 2023
Was George Kliavkoff serving as the first base ump tonight? https://t.co/ThDCJMDfVU
— Brett Parker (@thebrettparker) August 8, 2023
[Jomboy Media, Dillard Barnhart]
