Major League Baseball has had some issues with bad umpiring this season. That continued in Sunday’s Mariners-Reds game when Cincinnati pitcher Sam Moll needed to throw five strikes to finally get an out, which he rightfully didn’t seem to be too happy about.
In case you missed it, Moll had Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford on a 1–2 count with two outs in the top of the third inning. He then fired two fastballs that appeared to catch a part of the strike zone. The umpires didn’t see it that way, however, and called two straight balls.
Moll was then finally able to get Crawford out swinging, and then showed his frustrations with the umps:
Sam Moll, Third Time's the Charm. pic.twitter.com/6bseyrxu1N
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 4, 2023
Baseball fans have to love the immediate waving arms move and wonder what he was saying to himself as he walked off the mound.
They had reactions as the at-bat made the rounds online:
five strikes and you're out https://t.co/J58DU1W4qp
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) September 4, 2023
Can’t wait for that report card https://t.co/DmrigGwZaG
— Dr. Thaddaeus Schrickel (@TSchrick21) September 5, 2023
Give us the robots https://t.co/PWDz2T8Kww
— Logan Porter (@The_LoganPorter) September 5, 2023
We NEED automated balls and strikes.
— NatsDisciple (@NatsDisciple) September 4, 2023
Another case for automated balls and strikes.
— Stan Lockhart (@stantheman87) September 5, 2023