Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson tested the very limits of what a player can say to an umpire Monday night.
Somehow, he did not get ejected.
Torkelson had a chance to be a hero in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals. Detroit trailed by one run but had two men on base.
Torkelson worked the count to 2-2 against Royals reliever Taylor Clarke, then he took a called third strike.
The pitch, low and away, was definitely borderline but appeared to be a strike. Torkelson immediately turned to home plate umpire Will Little and yelled, “Oh my ******* god.”
As he walked away, Torkelson shouted, “The **** are you looking at?”
Warning: This video is absolutely NSFW.
I cannot believe Spencer Torkelson is still in the game after this pic.twitter.com/BjMXl3FWQs
— Steve Buchanan (@SBuchanan24) June 20, 2023
Players have certainly been ejected for far less than that outburst. Some fans felt Torkelson had a good point to argue, although they thought he should have toned down the language.
Ump should be fired . That’s inexcusable
— Rylan Skye (@RylanSkye) June 20, 2023
That one was actually halfway close. The ones that really tick me off are 6″ out, which there has been plenty of this year.
— Stein Carlson (@CarlsonStein) June 20, 2023
At the knees on the outside corner. Strike 10 times out of 10. I am one of the world’s biggest umpire critics and even I will tell you that is the correct call.
— Garrett Mitchell (@DruffLegend85) June 20, 2023
I was wondering why AJ Hinch didn’t go out and walk him off the field so he wouldn’t get tossed.
— Gareth Ridings (@GarethRidi63699) June 20, 2023
Everyone wants a computerized strike zone. But even when the computer shows the ump got it right they still complain that the computer got it wrong.
— Christopher Wright (@ctmwright) June 20, 2023
As a former catcher, that’s when you know your frame was good lol
Borderline? Yeah. Too close to take? Absolutely.
— Gaijin Baseball/外国人野球 (@GaijinBaseball) June 20, 2023
About Arthur Weinstein
Arthur spends his free time traveling around the U.S. to sporting events, state and national parks, and in search of great restaurants off the beaten path.