No one is to blame for this situation.
The fanbase is becoming more impatient, as is the entire nation.
It’s unfair that he has a blemish on his record for being ejected, while past Yankee captain Derek Jeter, who often expressed frustration with strike calls, was never ejected.
Aaron Judge and Aaron Boone are in a heated dispute with umpire Ryan Blakney over a call that resulted in Judge being ejected from the Yankees’ victory against the Tigers on Saturday. The ejection was a result of Judge’s disagreement with the umpire’s decision on balls and strikes.Getty Images
On Saturday, a larger issue arose when the home-plate umpire, Ryan Blakney, became upset about an exchange with Yankees’ top player, Aaron Judge, resulting in Judge’s ejection. In a rash decision (apologies – couldn’t resist), Judge made a comment while walking away that was deemed inappropriate by crew chief Alan Porter, speaking on behalf of the umpire involved.
The main target for criticism by fans and the media among umpires in major league baseball is not even the lowest-rated umpire, so this is not entirely his responsibility. Hunter Wendelstedt, the home plate umpire, erroneously called a foul on the second pitch during a game two weeks ago. Instead, it was clear to everyone that it was a fan sitting behind the dugout who should have been ejected. However, Wendelstedt was too upset to realize this.
It’s time to correct our calls while we have the ability to do so.
Do not hold Angel Hernandez accountable. Truly, it is not his responsibility.
Ryan Blackney (back) removes Aaron Judge from the game for disputing the umpire’s calls on the strikes while the Yankees’ captain was heading towards the team bench.AP
Even if Judge uttered the compound word that begins with “bull,” as lip readers surmise, and even if he adorned it with a spicy adjective, as is alleged, Judge should not be thrown out for a quick utterance while walking back to the dugout. Judge declined afterward to say what he said, but you can understand why he prefers to reserve colorful language for the field of battle.
A casual clubhouse survey on Tuesday discovered that players were divided on the issue, with greater backing for the challenge system. Anonymity was guaranteed to prevent any retaliatory actions. A few prefer no alterations, which is not unexpected as they all have a high level of success currently. However, some more astute individuals recognize that it is likely to happen eventually. One person stated, “That is probably the direction it will go.”
Either method will work for me.
It is now time to eliminate the emotional factor in the situation.
The spectators who paid to attend the event were not there to specifically see Blakney. However, they were left unaware of the reason for Judge’s absence in the last few innings. They can only speculate that an unfair decision was made, and they would be correct in their assumption.
I understand why MLB favors the challenge process. It is more likely to gain approval from both players and umpires. Rumor has it that this system may be put into effect as soon as the upcoming season.
I understand why Boone was given a warning, but there is no justifiable reason to remove Judge from the game. He was already walking away when he made his comment, plus he has had the most incorrect strike calls in MLB since 2018 (a total of 444; Mookie Betts comes in second with 441). Additionally, Judge’s presence is a major draw for fans.
The method used is as follows. Each team is allowed three incorrect challenges per game. Therefore, in theory, if the umpire consistently makes incorrect calls, the team can continue to issue challenges.
It is clear why Judge’s first ejection occurred. He seldom voices objections.
The ultimate achievement for Robo Umps is calling a perfect game.
It is becoming evident that umpires, including Hernandez, require assistance with determining balls and strikes.
It is reported that MLB is extensively testing the technology. They began implementing Robo Umps in select parks in Triple-A since 2022 and expanded to all parks last year. The majority of games rely solely on Robo Umps, with three games per week using them exclusively and a challenge system using them for the remaining three games.
They are the best in the world at what they do. If you’ve watched college or Little League games on TV, you know major league umpires don’t get where they are by happenstance. However, the job is getting too difficult.
