Getty Image / Scott Taetsch
The Washington Nationals lost to the Seattle Mariners in one of the worst ways imaginable on Monday night.
With a chance to possibly tie the game, the umpire ended the team’s chances with one of the worst strikeout calls you’ll see.
It was the top of the ninth, two outs, bases loaded, with Jeimer Candelario at bat. Paul Sewald stepped onto the mound to close out the contest.
However, he threw a ball that was very clearly down and away. It was obviously outside of the strike zone. But the umpire called it a strike anyway.
Even the announcers couldn’t believe the call while the Mariners began celebrating their victory over the Nationals.
"Strike 3 called — if you say so. And the Mariners win it." pic.twitter.com/MIQDpolsBe
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 27, 2023
Just a brutal way to end the game. Candelario did the right thing but the umpire somehow saw it differently.
The loss pushes the Nationals to a 30-48 record on the season so far, as hope to turn things around are beginning to fade.
But it’s a terrible look to have an umpire end the game like that. It’s just another example of why baseball fans are so upset with the officials. So much so, it might just be time to bring in the robot umps.
Absolutely ridiculous that this still happens every day in 2023
— exilejr202 (@exilejr202) June 27, 2023
Maybe the umpire had places to be.
I’m guessing someone was late for a date.
— Rodney Grubb (@rgrubb21) June 27, 2023
It was blatantly off. I’m still not sure how the umpire saw it as a strike.
It was so far outside the zone that the catcher tries to frame it and still doesn’t get it inside the box
— Sweet Daddy Williams (@maggietherottie) June 27, 2023
Robots might just be replacing more than umpires.
I am convinced that in the era of evolving artificial intelligence, EVs, SpaceX and such, baseball umpires behind the plate should be rendered irrelevant.
— gautam (@gbanerjea) June 27, 2023
Even Mariners fans can’t believe it.
I'm a Mariners fan but! No team should win a game that way. Trust Sewald, he could have done it on his own.
— LM (@leelamay) June 27, 2023
It’s time.
Robo umps now
— Jerry (@norcalpunkman) June 27, 2023
Bring them on! What’s the worst that can happen?
Tell me again why we don’t have technology replacing umpires!?
— Roland Krueger (@rekrueger) June 27, 2023
The umpires have been incredibly bad this year and they have been for several years now.
But this strikeout call on the Nationals is just horrendous.
We’ll have to see what the MLB plans to do to fix this problem, but it’s really looking like it’s time for robot umpires to be given a chance.