An X-Report says umpires called a home plate umpire’s decision on Monday “the worst.” (Watch the video below.)
Many who saw the clip agreed that the decision was atrocious, but some viewers thought referee Scott Barry was simply trying to speed up a one-sided game.
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Rowdy Tellez, normally a first baseman, was on the mound when his team was trailing the Chicago Cubs 15-6 in the ninth inning.
Tellez threw the pitch to Cubs hitter Patrick Wisdom like it was Beer League batting practice. In the words of Bob Uecker in Major League, he was “just a little off!”
Well, actually a lot outside.
“Umpire Scott Barry called the worst strike in the history of umpire auditors,” said the report, which has been around since 2014, as Sports Illustrated noted. “This lob from Rowdy Tellez missed the strike zone by 14.6 inches.”
The decision was so wrong that one commentator could be heard asking in disbelief: “Did he call a strike?”
“Come on,” said his colleague.
Some fans compared him to the recently retired Angel Hernandez, who some consider the “worst referee of all time.”
Hey, fans, stay calm. It’s just a call.
Tellez, by the way, could have used all the help he could get. He forced a run by hitting a batter and another by walking a batter. The final score was Cubs 18, Pirates 8.
