During Monday night’s game between the New York Mets and San Diego Padres, a highly disputed strikeout call involving Juan Soto ignited frustration among fans and announcers alike. In the top of the seventh inning, with the count at 0-2, home plate umpire Emil Jimenez called a pitch a strike despite it appearing to be well above the strike zone, provoking disbelief about the Juan Soto questionable strikeout call.
Conflicting Calls Reflect Ongoing Umpiring Issues
Earlier that evening in Baltimore, Brian Walsh, umpiring the Orioles’ game, made a call that contrasted sharply with the one Jimenez gave. Walsh ruled a pitch from Zach Elfin a strike even though it landed clearly within the zone, while Jimenez’s strike call against Soto in San Diego seemed far less justified. The inconsistent umpiring highlighted growing concerns over officiating quality this <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/baseball/mlb/”>MLB season.
Announcers React with Shock and Frustration
National MLB Network commentators Matt Vasgersian and Yonder Alonso voiced their disbelief during the broadcast. Vasgersian exclaimed,
“I mean come on now. Look, every once in a while a guy misses one but this has been happening all night, No, no, no!”
Their reaction captured the tension and irritation felt by many viewers.
Local Mets broadcasters Gary Cohen and Todd Zeile suggested that Jimenez might have been provoking Soto, who had already disputed a strikeout call earlier in the game. Despite Soto maintaining his composure and calmly leaving the batter’s box, the silence following the call spoke volumes to fans watching on the East Coast.
Rising Discontent Signals Possible Change Ahead
As the MLB season advances, questionable calls like this have become increasingly frequent, with fewer announcers willing to overlook umpiring errors. With no Angel Hernandez behind the plate this season, the scrutiny on officials like Jimenez has intensified. This growing dissatisfaction adds momentum to the ongoing conversation about implementing automated ball and strike technology in Major League Baseball to reduce controversy and improve fairness.