We’ve seen some preposterous decisions from big-league umpires over the years, but I don’t think anything is going to top what happened to Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto on Monday.
He was essentially ejected for a simple miscommunication with home plate umpire Randy Rosenberg.
The incident happened during the fourth inning of a Grapefruit League game between the Phillies and Blue Jays. Craig Kimbrel was called for a pitch-clock violation, and shortly after that, Realmuto reached his glove back asking for a new baseball. He either thought that Rosenberg was throwing the ball to the pitcher or he saw that Kimbrel already had a ball. So, Realmuto moved the glove away. It just happened right as Rosenberg was dropping the baseball into the glove.
Homeplate umpire Randy Rosenberg ejects JT Realmuto for this 🤨 pic.twitter.com/dkQtpU1bHt
— Tim and Friends (@timandfriends) March 27, 2023
That late movement caused Rosenberg to botch the exchange, and he immediately responded by ejecting Realmuto from the game. Evidently, he thought Realmuto was trying to show him up by moving the glove away. But really, that’s a stretch. Realmuto was looking towards the mound as that happened. He couldn’t see what the umpire was doing.
A simple explanation could have cleared it all up, but Rosenberg — who made his MLB umpiring debut in 2020 — adamantly stood by the ejection. Realmuto, in disbelief, left the field while fist pumping.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) March 27, 2023
MLB fans also couldn’t believe that sequence led to an ejection.
This was how Twitter reacted
No one makes more of a case for robo umps in @MLB than the umps themselves. These guys need to realize no one pays to see them. What a baby. https://t.co/pyNSTG51pE
— Dave_VFX (@PucksOnDave) March 27, 2023
Just about every ump/referee ever https://t.co/5qHxUGPHfN pic.twitter.com/m3JESLWyUe
— PJ (@JustPlainPat) March 27, 2023
Some dudes are just simply not cool dudes. https://t.co/5KJaRAZQUt
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) March 27, 2023
Lord, give me the confidence of a sports referee with an inflated ego lol https://t.co/RtCaGqO9H9
— Mary Clarke (@marycclarke) March 27, 2023
Robot umps watching this smiling from cyberspace https://t.co/Pzpl0HPBy4
— Angelina Martin (@angewrites) March 27, 2023
The umps really ruin the game at times ‼️ https://t.co/dmuQFgT82b
— El choco 🇩🇴 (@platodemoro) March 27, 2023
We have hit an all time low 😅 https://t.co/QXEOyC1cqK
— Paul Bromby (@PaulBromby) March 27, 2023
I’m all about second chances but this guy should never work in professional sports again https://t.co/k8etyUFZBH
— Wad (chicken chef) 🍥 (@SPlNANCH) March 27, 2023
Sure. Let’s give these dudes more power. https://t.co/VaobeNPJR8
— Mitch Moss (@MitchMossRadio) March 27, 2023
The Ump Show starting early this year.
But hey – why hold them accountable for the TV time they steal, right? https://t.co/XiJyHy6i46
— Mills (@MillsTwitch) March 27, 2023
Welcome to the ump show https://t.co/u1B8Af7s3F
— Jenn (@baseballnchill) March 27, 2023
Ejecting someone from a Spring Training game is already wild, but what are we doing here? https://t.co/mKvMZdCssU
— Russell Dorsey (@Russ_Dorsey1) March 27, 2023
It doesn’t get any worse than that.
