Broadcaster calls out umpires on numerous occasions

Saturday’s Game 1 NLDS matchup between the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies had viewers and broadcasters alike calling the umpiring in the game into question on numerous occasions.

Things didn’t get off to a great start when Mets starter Kodai Senga attempted a pick-off move to first base in the bottom of the third inning when Trea Turner led off of first base a bit too far.

Harper was ruled safe on the play by first-base umpire Edwin Moscoso, which was challenged by the Mets. The replay review would ultimately stand after there wasn’t enough evidence to overturn the call.

Reacting to the call on the replay review, the Fox broadcast crew, particularly color analyst A.J. Pierzynski, was not pleased after seeing a clip of what he believed to be Mets first baseman Pete Alonso tagging Turner while his hand was not yet on the base.

“From that angle, he is out,” said Pierzynski. “I don’t know what we’re looking at. Please somebody tell me what we’re looking at. He’s out!”

Luckily for Mets fans, this call would not ultimately play that big of a factor in the game, as the Mets would go on to get out of the inning unharmed. However, this would only be the tip of the iceberg when it came to the complaints towards umpires in this matchup.

In the top of the fourth inning, Mets second baseman Jose Iglesias came to the plate in a key situation with runners on first and second base with only one out. He got to a favorable 2-0 count but was then called for a highly questionable strike on the third pitch of the at-bat.

Immediately after the strike call, Pierzynski again took issue with the call, arguing that the call “changed the entire at-bat” for the Mets.

“That call right there on a pitch that’s not a strike to make it 2-1,” said Pierzynski. “You see that? That changes the whole at-bat. Iglesias is 3-0. That ball is not a strike.

“Umpire was anticipating four-seamer right there but he ran the two-seamer in,” Adam Wainwright added. “And it had that late movement.”

“It changes the whole at-bat,” Pierzynski again insisted. “That’s when hitters get mad. Or pitchers if it’s the other way around.

Pierzynski does have a point here. Anyone who has ever played baseball knows that as a hitter, your approach changes drastically in a 3-0 count compared to a 2-1 count.

Ultimately, Iglesias would end up grounding into an inning-ending double play, which only further proves Pierzynski’s point when it comes to the questionable strike call.

Typically, former players are far more likely to be critical of umpires on the call of games. And given the stakes in this matchup, this certainly was the case for Pierzynski.

[ MLB on Fox on X ]

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