Getty Image / Michael Reaves
Umpires have had quite the season so far as it seems their calls have been all over the place.
That certainly was the case on Tuesday night, when a wildly controversial call led to the Texas Rangers manager, Bob Bochy, being ejected.
In the bottom of the eighth, Elvis Andrus of the Chicago White Sox was sliding into home in an attempt give his team a late game lead.
However, Rangers catcher Jonah Heim tagged him out at the plate. The play looked incredibly close in normal speed, which forced the umps to review the call.
In the slow-motion replay, it looks like it was a clean tag for Heim. But the umpires ruled that he didn’t give Andrus a lane. So, the umpires called the White Sox shortstop the run.
The Rangers manager couldn’t believe it and confronted the officials on the field. He was eventually ejected from the game. Here’s the full clip of the play, via Awful Announcing.
The White Sox take the lead after it's ruled — after review — that Rangers catcher Jonah Heim didn't give Elvis Andrus a lane to home plate. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy was ejected.
Even the NBC Sports Chicago crew — Jason Benetti & Steve Stone — couldn't believe the ruling. pic.twitter.com/eRAoqFqoZU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 21, 2023
You know it’s bad when the Chicago based announcers are against the call too.
Bochy didn’t hold back after the game either. He let the umpires know how he felt during a postgame interview.
"For that call to be made… I'm dumbfounded. It's absolutely one of the worst calls I've ever seen and it was done by replay, I just don't get it."
Bruce Bochy shares his thoughts of the call and the explanation in the 8th.
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/HWpg9X1yFs— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) June 21, 2023
I mean, it’s just an atrocious call. It’s not entirely clear how Jonah Heim was blocking the lane, as it appears he’s enough to the side for Elvis Andrus to possibly make a play.
As you can imagine, MLB fans everywhere hate the call.
What a horrible call.
— Steve Paris (@StevieParis2) June 21, 2023
I, for one, am shocked at how calm the Rangers manager was in that situation. And he still got ejected!
Bochy shoulda gone Phillip Wellman 😂pic.twitter.com/VCR6yypTtP
— Uncle Mal (@mal8384) June 21, 2023
The technicality of the rule states the catcher can’t have a foot on home plate. It’s a dumb rule.
The entire front corner of the plate is available for the runner to touch. Ridiculous call.
What are catchers supposed to do?
— Sammy Levitt | Padres Radio Host (@SammyLev) June 21, 2023
Longtime fans are getting fed up.
Reason number 7688 why I’m getting tired of watching baseball.
— Mills (@MillManner) June 21, 2023
He might be right.
MLB replay is the worst in all of sports by a wide margin.
— Craig Milkowski (@TimeformUSfigs) June 21, 2023
Let’s just hope calls like these go away soon. I’m not sure baseball fans could handle it if the umpires and review crew botched a call again
Also, shoutout Bruce Botchy for staying rather calm, even though he did get ejected.