Major League Baseball games are already looking a lot different thanks to a number of new rules, including a pitch clock that has things moving along a lot faster than before.
We knew coming into the season that we’d see some weird things happen as umps and players got used to these new changes. We also knew we’d see some umps catching heat for making calls around the new rules.
That’s exactly what happened in Thursday’s Mets-Marlins game when home plate ump Larry Vanover called an automatic strike on New York’s Jeff McNeil because his teammate, Pete Alonso, was slow getting back to first base after a foul ball.
Check this out:
Jeff McNeil was given a strike by the plate umpire after Pete Alonso took too long getting back to first base pic.twitter.com/GbEb8ch6gD
— SNY (@SNYtv) March 30, 2023
That seems a little much there by the umps.
MLB fans were not impressed.
The worst thing for baseball is umpires having more avenues for attention. https://t.co/ro9j0CDNmy
— Schwamp (@OleSwamp) March 31, 2023
I am not too keen on MLB rules, but I still don’t understand how you can add a strike that never happened. https://t.co/3b8699tzNe
— David Soderquist (@GettinSwamped) March 31, 2023
Not a Mets fan but stop ruining baseball https://t.co/QVjYy9qnR8
— Joe (@J_stas93) March 31, 2023
@MLB Manfred is ruining the greatest game in the world. Stop the madness please! I promise you will lose more than you gain! https://t.co/BTeTyv1Ao1
— Ridiculous (@tvschroeder) March 31, 2023
home plate umps are gonna go on so many power trips now 🤦🏻♀️ https://t.co/wnwjwn60t3
— michelle (@heyitsmichellen) March 30, 2023
The Gong Show! https://t.co/4W0vlQIoNN
— Lyon's Pub Warriors (@PubBaseball) March 31, 2023
I've not watched an entire MLB game in over 15 years.. Looks like that streak will continue. 🚮 https://t.co/JDOCsw3m0w
— Chad (@ChadGator4Life) March 31, 2023