Home plate umpire Paul Emmel defeats Dodgers on Saturday night
The Dodgers got screwed
The Dodgers had their chances in this game. They went 4-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded five runners on base. What happened in the ninth inning isn’t 100 percent of the reason they lost.
It’s a good portion, though.
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Trailing by three in the ninth, the Dodgers slowly chipped away and were on the verge of one of their biggest comebacks of the season. After three consecutive hits, the Dodgers had the tying run on second base with no outs. They were in prime position to complete the comeback.
James Outman pinch-hit for Chris Taylor. With the count full, Outman flew out to second base, failing to bring a run in. Will Smith stepped into the box, pinch-hitting for Austin Barnes. Here’s when the home plate umpire decided to get involved with the outcome of the game.
On a 3-1 pitch, Smith took what should have been ball four. Instead, it was called strike two. For reference, pitch No. 5 was what was called a strike.
The Dodgers would have had the bases loaded and one out for Mookie Betts. Obviously anything could have happened. A double play, a strikeout, who knows. We’ll never know. The umpire missed a call in a crucial moment there.
Now, Smith did still have a chance. In fact, he drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Pick your poison, though. Would you rather have the bases loaded and one out or a runner on second with two outs?
Speaking of Betts, this is when home plate umpire Paul Emmel defeated the Dodgers.
On a 3-2 count, Betts took what was easily ball four. I think you can figure out which pitch we’re talking about here. In case you need a refresher, pitch No. 2 wasn’t the one that was called strike three…..
It was pitch No. 6.
A pitch that wasn’t even close to the strike zone was called strike three to end the game.
The Dodgers would have had two on for Freddie Freeman, one of the top hitters in the game. Does he deliver there for LA? Maybe, or maybe not. We’ll never know. We should have known, though. Freeman should have been standing in the box.
Instead, Paul Emmel decided to take matters into his own hands and end the game.
We’ve seen this far too many times this season, where the home plate umpire makes an egregious call in a crucial moment of the game. We have the technology to make sure games aren’t decided by horrendous calls anymore. What are we doing?
Also, one final thing on this embarrassing finish. Where the hell was the emotion? I know Mookie Betts isn’t that kind of player, but you need to get in the umpire’s ear and let him know he just blew the call. Instead of walking away, you need to stick up for yourself.
I’m not saying you need to get face-to-face and exchange blows, but you can’t walk away there.
Oh, where was Dave Roberts? Your team just got HOSED by two calls in a crucial moment of a very important game. Where was he? If I was him, I would have sprinted out of that dugout to let the umpire hear it. How can you not stand up for your team in that moment? How did nobody stand up?
I can’t remember the last time a player on the Dodgers got ejected. It’s been some time. It would just be nice to see from SOMEBODY that this is unacceptable.
Anyways, the home plate umpire isn’t the reason the Dodgers lost. He’s about 84% of the reason. The pitching staff allowed six runs and the offense didn’t do enough. It’s baseball, it happens.
With that being said, shitty calls shouldn’t happen.
Wow. Well done Blake. For weeks, no a couple of years we’ve watched challenges not called and Betts walk away dejected. Meanwhile Lasorda would have been in the umpires face
Losing is one thing but a game ending on a strike 3 call that isn’t a strike is shameful. Umpires really need to do better. They aren’t supposed to be a part if the game, if you know what I mean. Good article.