How The MLB Can Fix It’s Umpire Problem
The MLB has an umpire problem. That has never been clearer than it is right now after Sunday’s game in Baltimore, when Mike Estabrook called several balls strikes even though they were way off of the plate, and then had the nerve to get chesty with Rob Thomson.
Criticizing umpires and refs is nothing new. For as long as sports have existed, fans of every sport, in every country, have taken out their wrath on the rule-keepers of that sport. Nobody likes the person in black and white pinstripes, or in baseball’s case, the man in black.
But the recent uptick in umpire complaints is not an overreaction. The umpire problem is real. On a regular basis, umpires are inserting themselves into games in ways that make the game worse. It’s not just balls and strikes, though that is a big part of it. We have seen mistakes in other parts of the game too. We have also seen umpires being way too quick to toss players or managers.
So how do they fix the umpire problem? Here are some easy fixes.
Automatic Strikezone
The first thing they need is already in motion. You may have heard the term robo-umps. What that means is an automatic strike zone. We have had the technology to have a nearly perfect strike zone for years now. Fans can do it from home on their phones
The MLB has been slow to implement it because it would take away the “human element.” I don’t get that argument at all. The human element I want in the game is from the players and the managers. Them making mistakes is part of the game. Umpire mistakes are not a thing that makes games better.
No umpire is perfect. It would be insane to expect perfection. Calling balls and strikes by eye is incredibly hard. But we can make it easier. We can make it 99% accurate. Why would we not want that?
It is not taking a job away. They will still need an umpire at home plate to relay the ball and strike calls, and to call close plays at the plate. It will just take that responsibility off their plate. It will lead to a more accurate game. No more would we have games marred by an umpire with a wild strike zone.
Unfortunately, it looks like they are doing a challenge system first. For me, that is the worst option available. Why waste time with challenges when we can get the call right to begin with? Hopefully that quickly turns into a full automatic strike zone.
No More Quick Ejections
Baseball is the only sport where the umpire/ref can just eject someone on a whim. Every other sport has warnings or requires a severe foul.
In Basketball, it requires two technical fouls or two flagrants. If you argue and get a tech, you now at least know any future complaining can get you tossed. If you complain again, it is on you. In soccer, you need two yellow cards or one red. In hockey or football, you need to try to hurt someone intentionally.
But in the MLB, Umps can do it at any time. Look at the ump wrong, he can toss you. We saw Bryce Harper get tossed in the 1st inning for asking the ump where a ball was that he called a strike. Yankees Manager Aaron Boone was tossed because a fan heckled the umpire.
Umpires shouldn’t be impacting the game just because their feelings got hurt. Think back to last Spring training when an umpire tossed JT Realmuto because he thought JT intentionally pulled his glove away when the ump was dropping a ball into his glove. It was only Spring training, so it didn’t matter too much. but it was still a complete misuse of power by the umpire.
Umpires abuse that power far too much now. To the point that the MLB needs to take it away. What should replace it? Maybe a warning system. The MLB has it informally, where they can warn both benches. Make that official and expand it to giving individual players and managers warnings.
Argue once, and you get warned. Argue again, and you can be tossed. But we need to stop letting umps just do it in rash moments where they got their feelings hurt. Fans shouldn’t be subjected to watching a bench player in place of Bryce Harper just because a grown man can’t handle someone saying something to them.
Will Those 2 Things Fix The Umpire Problem?
I’m not sure if those two things will fix the entire umpire problem. But it would take away the two biggest problems we currently have.
Most plays outside of balls and strikes, are reviewable. Making balls and strikes reviewable, instead of using the automatic strike zone, would make the game last too long. Why waste time, when we can instantly get the right call?
It is a simple fix, that will make the game better. So will changing the way the league handles ejections. The umpire problem has gone far enough. We see too many instances where umpires impact the game. That needs to change.
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8 Philadelphia Phillies Who Could Play in the MLB All-Star Game
Bryce Harper
.278/.390/.529
15 home runs, 45 RBIThe game’s biggest superstar has transitioned to first base after playing almost his career in right field.
He didn’t storm out of the gates offensively despite Philadelphia’s excellent start. His power numbers remained steady, however, and then the hot streak arrived.
Harper earned the nod as the National League Player of the Month for May. He launched seven homers and drove in 24 runs in 26 games. He ranks first in the majors in OPS with runners in scoring position.
His profile also attracts the type of attention needed to promote the MLB All-Star Game. He’s as much of a lock for an All-Star appearance as you’ll find, and he’ll most likely participate in the Home Run Derby. He won the competition in 2018.
Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images
Alec Bohm
.290/ .347/ .464
6 HR, 51 RBIThe development of MLB players isn’t linear. Alec Bohm survived his fair share of lumps at the beginning of his career, and he’s emerged as a key weapon in the cleanup spot for the Phillies.
The 27-year-old has improved his versatility at the plate by adding legitimate power on his pull swing. He’s maintained the ability to hit to all fields with a smooth stroke that covers the entire plate.
His .353 average with runners in scoring position is second on the Phillies behind only Bryce Harper. Bohm leads the team in RBI with 51.
Although the defensive metrics don’t grade Bohm as a great third baseman, his notable improvement has granted Rob Thomson a comfort level and lineup flexibility.
Zack Wheeler
8-3, 2.16 ERA, 0.93 WHIP (14 starts)
Wheeler ranks seventh in the majors with a 2.16 ERA in 14 starts. His continued dominance has earned him a reputation in the top tier of MLB starting pitchers. He’s pitched at least seven innings six times in 2024, and he’s one of only 12 qualified MLB pitchers with a WHIP under 1.00 (MLB Average: 1.26). He ranks sixth in the majors with 96 strikeouts. Wheeler’s fierce competitive attitude has helped him record double-digit strikeouts in three of his starts in some of the most dominant performances of the season. The tested veteran made his only career All-Star appearance in 2021. Expect to see him make a second in Arlington. While Ranger Suarez has better numbers in the first half of 2024, Wheeler might be likelier to start because of a longer track record of MLB success.
Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images
Ranger Suarez
10-1, 1.81 ERA, 0.85 WHIP (13 starts)
Most MLB experts wouldn’t have picked Ranger Suarez as the MLB leader in ERA and WHIP over 60 games into the season. He’s also just behind Zack Wheeler in the top tier qualified starting pitchers with the lowest opponent batting average.
The Venezuelan lefty has emerged as one of best pitchers in the major leagues in 2024 with a cool demeanor that’s helped him become a fan favorite in Philadelphia. He even made his mark in the franchise record books with an early-season shutout streak that reached 32 innings.
The Phillies have ridden the best starting rotation in the league to a record-breaking start. Suarez has surprisingly outperformed Wheeler and Nola.
He deserves to take the hill as the National League starter.
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
Aaron Nola
8-2, 2.77 ERA, 0.97 WHIP (13 starts)
Did you forget about the longest-tenured Phillie? Zack Wheeler and Ranger Suarez have drawn the attention. The former seventh-overall pick who used to take persistent criticism about not pitching at an ace level is somehow flying under the radar now.
Nola has been worth every cent of the $24.5 million annual salary he commanded over the offseason. He’s posted a sub-3.00 ERA and a sub-1.00 WHIP through 13 starts. His knuckle curve has improved into an effective strikeout pitch that keeps opposing hitters off balance.
He matched Suarez with Philadelphia’s second complete-game shutout of the season on May 14. It was his third start of the season pitching eight or more innings.
Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images
Jose Alvarado
3.41 ERA, 9.9 SO/9 (31 games)
The Hefty Lefty suddenly took intense criticism after a bad outing in the MLB London Series. However, the majority of his outings in 2024 point to a dominant reliever more than an erratic liability.
Alvarado has developed a power sinker throughout his tenure with the Phillies. He’s mixed it with a cutter that’s been effective deep in counts.
Two bad outings have hurt his statistical profile, and a reliever who’s not near the top of the league in saves or ERA is ultimately a longshot to earn an All-Star bid.
However, the Phillies will trust Jose Alvarado as their top left-handed option in high-leverage situations in a season with World Series hopes.
Matt Strahm
0.67 ERA, 13.0 SO/9 (28 games)
The Phillies locked up Matt Strahm to a two-year extension just before the 2024 season began. The 32-year-old journeyman has made Dave Dombrowski look like a genius for his foresight.
Strahm allowed two earned runs in ⅓ of an inning on Opening Day against the Atlanta Braves. He hasn’t surrendered an earned run in any of his 27 outings since.
Rob Thomson has utilized his veteran lefty in high-leverage spots throughout the season.
“I trust him as much as anybody really. He’s throwing the baseball really well right now, as good as I’ve seen him to tell you the truth. He’s got a scoreless streak going… His fastball is really getting on people. His secondary pitches are good. He has no heartbeat. He really lives for those moments.” -Rob Thomson
Strahm told Andrew Salciunas during spring training that he allowed a big hit to Carson Wentz in his last high school game when the two future professionals faced each other in North Dakota.
Perhaps he’s trying to make it up to the city of Philadelphia.
Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images
Jeff Hoffman
0.93 ERA, 11.2 SO/9 (29 games)
The Phillies didn’t expect Jeff Hoffman to play a key bullpen role in 2023. They certainly didn’t expect him to overtake Seranthony Dominguez as the top right-hander during the postseason.
They probably didn’t expect him to match his career-best season in 2024. He’s somehow exceeded that statistical output.
Hoffman has developed into a power pitcher whose 6-foot-5 reach and high 90s fastball intimidates opposing hitters. He has earned his role as Thomson’s preferred righty at the back end of one of the best major league bullpens.
While he doesn’t boast the profile of a shutdown closer, Hoffman has been as good as any MLB reliever in 2024. If he doesn’t get the nod for the NL All-Stars, it won’t be because he didn’t earn it.
“We have a lot of talent, whether it’s the young kid Orion (Kerkering) or Alvy (Jose Alvarado), or Ser (Seranthony Dominguez) or (Gregory) Soto, we have so many guys with closing experience, so many guys with experience pitching at the back end. I think that’s going to be a really, really big strength for us not having to necessarily dictate ‘This guy is our 9th inning guy. This guy is our 8th inning guy.’ I think we have so many different weapons that we can use in those situations.” –Jeff Hoffman on 97.5 The Fanatic
Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
