MLB’s new rules are designed to speed up the game, but sometimes, umpires can weaponize those rules against the batter. Brewers shortstop Willy Adames certainly felt that umpire Adam Beck did just that on Saturday.
During Adames’ sixth-inning at-bat against the Angels’ Jaime Barría, the Brewers shortstop wanted timeout after a first-pitch ball was high and tight. Now, Adames let the pitch clock run down close to the eight-second cutoff. But he did appear to call timeout in time. Umpires aren’t required to grant a timeout to the batter, and Beck opted to let Barría continue with the pitch even as Adames left the box.
The problems really sparked by how Beck handled the situation. He not only didn’t grant Adames timeout, but he also missed the call, ruling that a high pitch was a strike.
Both Craig Counsell and Willy Adames got ejected after Adames wasn't granted time then received an automatic strike pic.twitter.com/WOKGNSzgKH
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 30, 2023
Both the broadcast and MLB’s strike-zone chart had the pitch missing the zone.
As Adames returned to the box, he voiced his frustration towards Beck. And in that time, he didn’t become alert to the pitcher before the eight-second mark, so Beck signaled an automatic strike. That led to manager Craig Counsell being ejected for arguing.
Once Adames struck out swinging on the next pitch, he had more words for Beck and was ejected for the first time in his big-league career.
For the first time in his career Willy Adames was ejected. This came shortly after Adam Beck tossed manager Craig Counsell
— Tyler Koerth (@TylerKoerth) April 30, 2023
Between the no timeout, missed call, automatic strike and double ejections, the entire sequence was peak Ump Show. And fans weren’t pleased with Beck’s antics either. The umpire instigated the entire incident.
This was how Twitter reacted
Adames tries to call time and steps out, doesn’t get it, and Adam Beck just, calls this out of spite?? Then Adames starts yelling about it between pitches, gets an automatic strike so Counsell gets tossed, Adames strikes out and gets tossed, we are witnessing HOF umpiring today pic.twitter.com/kvLQrLXdyW
— Brian Schlosser (@brian_slosh) April 30, 2023
Adam Beck has had an awful night.
After a pitch clock dispute with Willy Adames and a cheap strike zone call and timer violation, he tosses Counsell.
Absolute ump show.
— Dominic Cotroneo (@Dom_Cotroneo) April 30, 2023
ya know what. adam beck might actually be worse than hernandez and bucknor.
— hall of famer tweeter person (@Lasagnathan) April 30, 2023
The fact that Willy was this mad means he’s a trash umpire. I’ve never seen Willy mad before and he was REALLY mad https://t.co/DFwAz94KNF
— Trevin Supple (17-9) (@SuppleTrevin) April 30, 2023
You have to try really hard to make Willy Adames that upset…
Great job, ump https://t.co/ulyZmV7JLX
— Spencer Wagen (@SWOnTheRadio) April 30, 2023
Doesn’t give him the timeout. Fine. But calling that a strike? @MLBUA Is full of garbage https://t.co/LTdkNHkl7p
— Jim Is Exhausted (@_ere4545_d) April 30, 2023
Yeah, that ump needed to toss himself https://t.co/QdH6NEj7Hk
— Juice (@ItsJuiceTime) April 30, 2023
This ump needs to be fired into the sun https://t.co/Lj6viL7EkC
— Nor Nor (@LilNorNor) April 30, 2023
It's what the fans want! https://t.co/O2IK7xEJbi
— Cam Miller 🎥 (@cammillerfilms) April 30, 2023
There’s really no place in the game for umpires to act like that.
