Often times, MLB umpires don’t get the credit they deserve for doing their job well. It’s easy to pile on when a call is missed, and though that criticism is deserved, we have to applaud a job well done.
Umpire Quinn Wolcott certainly earned all the praise after Tuesday night’s game in Oakland.
While much of the focus for the Athletics’ game against the Rays was on the reverse boycott at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, Wolcott did his part to call a near-perfect game behind the plate. According to Umpire Scorecards, Wolcott accurately called 124 of the 125 taken pitches in the game.
Umpire: Quinn Wolcott
Final: Rays 1, Athletics 2#RaysUp // #Athletics#TBvsOAK // #OAKvsTBMore stats for this game 👇https://t.co/DyOouZruhB pic.twitter.com/lTHsUiicF3
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) June 14, 2023
His one missed call was so borderline that it didn’t even appear to be a missed call on the live broadcast.
wow. this change-up from Hogan Harris just cut too far inside for Langeliers to frame it…it certainly doesn’t look like a strike on TV but the Gameday zone is the Gameday zone and this pitch apparently clipped it. so close to perfection!https://t.co/1sdYV7tz8B pic.twitter.com/Dy9qXTjcKt
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) June 14, 2023
The pitch broke inside, and catcher Shea Langeliers caught it with his glove’s momentum heading towards the batter. So, while MLB’s strike zone tracker had it catching the zone, it would have been awfully difficult for Wolcott to make that call in real time.
Since Umpire Scorecards started tracking accuracy, the lone perfect game was by Pat Hoberg in the World Series last year. Wolcott was *that* close to matching Hoberg’s historic performance, so fans justifiably applauded the effort behind the plate.
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This was how Twitter reacted
There are good umpires. We need to celebrate them and find better ways to punish bad ones. https://t.co/Btyf6BcmvQ
— Andrew Smith🧸🎀🏴☠️ (@SoonerSoupGuy) June 14, 2023
Games like these are worth recognizing, just as much, if not more so, than the awful scorecards. https://t.co/2I50P6pJOp
— Blair Hough (@soundslikeHuff) June 14, 2023
https://t.co/xBOJzGzCjx pic.twitter.com/NlYRylLvwe
— PrincePRS 👑 (@PrincePRS_) June 14, 2023
Reverse boycott, the A's winning a series against the Rays, and the Umpire missed ONE call? Wow…what a night https://t.co/ruk1adIcGF
— Jeff (@jefffcarr) June 14, 2023
Apt that a near perfect umpire game came at an A’s-Rays game at the Coliseum. https://t.co/xB9WErALiC
— Melissa Lockard (@melissalockard) June 14, 2023
So fitting that we got a nearly perfect strike zone on a nearly perfect evening at the Last Dive Bar.
I tip my kelly green A’s cap to you Mr. Wolcott.#OAKtogether https://t.co/DIeO0MdA58
— gαя∂єη ѕтαтє ωαяяισяѕ (@ABL_GSDubs) June 14, 2023
what a surreal game in so many facets https://t.co/IeIXwjCCW0
— Jon Becker (@jonbecker_) June 14, 2023
Quinn Wolcott putting on a show for Oakland https://t.co/FVEMWCcFvG
— Cole Payne (@brngnthepayne) June 14, 2023
Quinn Wolcott masterclass for the packed Oakland crowd https://t.co/9ERDy9CRMm
— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) June 14, 2023
Wow I mean everyone stepped up across the board for this game. https://t.co/CN2zBn0kV7
— I'm da Biggest Bird (@nickwillisjr) June 14, 2023
Reverse boycott win was almost a perfect umpire game too https://t.co/AUIlze84hA
— James Martini (@jamesmartinisb) June 14, 2023
1 pitch from a perfect game! 👏🏾 need more umpires like this https://t.co/OcZiGqFA2A
— missa🦁 (@MissaVazMez) June 14, 2023
Just an amazing night all around for Oakland.
