Let’s be honest here, Major League Baseball has an umpiring issue. Major League Baseball has had an umpiring issue. Maybe it all seems a bit worse because every blown call is on social media for the whole world to see, but at the very least, this season is one of the worst we can remember, at least from a correct calls standpoint.
And on Tuesday, veteran umpire Bruce Dreckman made the worst call of the season. Just see for yourself below:
Justin Turner strikes out looking on a pitch nowhere close, as seen and heard on the NESN Red Sox broadcast. ⚾️👮♂️🎙️ pic.twitter.com/QYIwHHUhKa
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 16, 2023
At the top of the fourth inning of Tuesday’s game between the Red Sox and Nationals, Boston designated hitter Justin Turner stepped to the plate. On a 3-2 pitch, Turner was rung up on a ball that was in the other batter’s box. In fact, the pitch would’ve brushed him off the plate if he were a left-handed hitter.
The NESN Red Sox broadcast was understandably in utter disbelief, as both play-by-play voice Dave O’Brien and color analyst Kevin Youkilis sort of laughed off the terrible strike call.
“No, this is not a strike.”
“It sure wasn’t.”
Even the MASN broadcast, which has been known to wear Nationals pom poms in the booth, couldn’t believe how terrible the call was.
“Oh, my goodness…That was awful,” analyst Kevin Frandsen said.
Even the MASN (Nats) broadcast couldn't believe the strike 3 call on Justin Turner.
"Oh my goodness… That is awful." ⚾️👮♂️ 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/ytZZmEa7cy
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 16, 2023
Good on Frandsen for telling it like it is. It was refreshing to hear from an opposing broadcast, even if the direct implications of the blown call benefitted Washington. This isn’t the first time he’s taken an issue with the umpiring in the league. Just a few weeks ago, he was fed up with Ángel Hernández. Aren’t we all?
It’s not too often that commentators go completely in on umpiring or officiating like that. Appeasing the broadcast partners is often thought in the back of everyone’s mind while they call a game. So, it usually results in criticism, but nothing scathing. But this, however, was an instance where it was the opposite.
The audible displeasure from both broadcast booths over Dreckman’s horrible missed call was something no doubt felt by the audience at home. While bias is sometimes something people bemoan over when you’re a local announcer, you have to know your audience. Knowing that fans probably don’t like the calls just as much, if not more, expressing that dissatisfaction can get you places. At least among the fans watching at home.
And it seems like we were all Frandsen and Youkilis, as we sat with our jaws on the floor, wondering if Ashton Kutcher was going to come out and tell us all we were being punk’d. Needless to say, we were not being punked and if there was any comedic value in Dreckamn’s call, well we’re still searching for it ourselves.
