Though MLB is experimenting with electronic strike zones (aka “robo umps”) in the minor leagues, balls and strikes are still called by human beings at the big league level. And while major league umpires are pretty good on the whole, there’s always going to be missed calls. Unless an umpire is having a really bad day, you’ll probably see a bad call, shake your head and move on. But seeing a whole bunch of lousy calls back-to-back is a different story.
This video from the Umpire Auditor account on X (formerly known as Twitter) shows the 10 worst called third strikes from last week’s games and it’s enough to make your skin crawl.
Umpires missed 940 calls in the past week (8/20-8/26).
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) August 29, 2023
These were the 10 worst called strikeouts by distance missed. pic.twitter.com/aH9F4SIYpw
The three worst missed calls of the week belonged to Stu Scheurwater (2.69 inches), Cory Blaser (2.99 inches) and Laz Diaz (3.15 inches). Diaz, who made headlines earlier this month when he ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone for arguing over his wildly inconsistent zone, punched out the Pirates’ Ji Hwan Bae on a pitch from Twins closer Jhoan Durán that never came close to crossing the plate.
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If those calls left you feeling frustrated over the state of big league umpiring, you may be pleased to know that the league has come up with a potential solution. Some games in Triple A this year are using something called the challenge system where human umpires call every pitch but players have the ability to challenge a call they believe was inaccurate. When a call is challenged, it’s reviewed using the Hawk-Eye technology used in other games to automatically call balls and strikes. Such a system seems like a great way to keep everyone happy. Fans who appreciate the “human element” of umpiring get to keep it, but players like Bae have an opportunity not to get screwed by obviously blown calls.
