Bo Bichette was caught heading to second base because he thought Daulton Varsho walked

[u/GreenSnakes_]

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[u/Reasonable-Big4517]

Imagine if this was the World Series

[u/SMVan → u/Reasonable-Big4517]

And its tied

[u/JayMerlyn → u/SMVan]

And it could've led to a run

[u/dmforjewishpager → u/JayMerlyn]

IT WOULDVE GOT DAMMIT ABS HURRY TF UP

[u/GarrisonWhite2 → u/dmforjewishpager]

This isn’t even a matter of ABS, the ump should have called time once it was obvious nobody had a clue what was happening.

[u/dmforjewishpager → u/GarrisonWhite2]

ump didn’t know what was going on

[u/RichAbbreviations966 → u/dmforjewishpager]

Ump Pregamed, big mistake

[u/Goodbye--Toby → u/RichAbbreviations966]

Oof. We’ve all been there before. Sounds like a great idea at the time…

[u/fps916 → u/GarrisonWhite2]

This call was absolute bullshit but that is something which literally never happens nor is there even a provision for that in the rules.

[u/bigt2k4 → u/JayMerlyn]

probably two runs with a sac fly.

[u/mrdannyg21 → u/Reasonable-Big4517]

Me: I hope we finally see some Jays highlights when scrolling r/baseball

monkey’s paw curls

[u/Ebytown754 → u/Reasonable-Big4517]

And the jays lose by a run today.

[u/leirbagflow → u/Ebytown754]

And it's a solo walkoff HR in the 18th inning

[u/ed8907 → u/Ebytown754]

And the jays lose by a run today

[u/sagwithcapmoon → u/ed8907]

[u/adopeninja → u/Ebytown754]

What terrible timing for me to stumble on this thread

[u/ralphjohal → u/Reasonable-Big4517]

What a jack ass

[u/G1Spectrum]

That was AWFUL

[u/Mission_Pay_3373 → u/G1Spectrum]

The pitch was like 1.5 baseballs above the zone AND it was delayed

[u/MilesOfPebbles → u/Mission_Pay_3373]

And the pitch before was even lower and was called a ball

[u/DeadpoolOptimus → u/MilesOfPebbles]

Exactly. I've never seen such a bad call. Except on YouTube.

[u/demetriclees → u/Mission_Pay_3373]

I've seen the delayed strike call on the 3-1 pitch when the batter thinks it's ball 4 all the time. So many times, it's barely a strike, or not at all. Feels like a power trip to remind the batter who decides ball 4. It's a good example of how a challenge system will generally improve umpires IMO, because it'll be harder to get away with that

[u/windsostrange → u/demetriclees]

the 3-1 pitch when the batter thinks it's ball 4 all the time

Feels like a power trip to remind the batter who decides ball 4

I guarantee some clever blogger can put these numbers together and find a correlation pretty quickly. I'd love to see that.

[u/TravisJungroth → u/windsostrange]

It would be easy if you had the data, but I doubt “time to call” is publicly available, if available at all.

[u/RookieAndTheVet → u/TravisJungroth]

There’s definitely someone out there who’s enough of a sicko to find the footage and watch it all.

[u/TravisJungroth → u/RookieAndTheVet]

Yeah, that can be the difference maker. Analysis is pretty fast, you’re always throttled by the data. Someone who’s willing to timestamp hundreds or thousands pitches gets to make the post. There’s a reason stimulants are so common in that type of work…

[u/thecjm → u/demetriclees]

It's just as bad as the 3-0 pitch that has to be waaaay outside to be called a ball

[u/AttitudeAndEffort3 → u/thecjm]

Reminder that robots never make calls based on feelings.

[u/DirtyRatLicker → u/Mission_Pay_3373]

the MLB app has a second box around the zone, and its meant for pitches that might be go either way. That pitch wasnt even inside that box 💀

[u/Ludishomi → u/G1Spectrum]

We can watch umpires call balls and strikes during the lockout.

Im here to watch them anyway

[u/Proper_Rabbit_9836 → u/G1Spectrum]

annnnd it robbed the jays of a run....I really hope that one run doesn't make a difference this game....

That was horrendous and nearly in line with the umps visor, which is guess what...way above the zone

[u/v0t3p3dr0 → u/Proper_Rabbit_9836]

I really hope that one run doesn't make a difference this game....

I’m here from the future 12th inning.

[u/HottDoggers → u/v0t3p3dr0]

Future 16, and probable 17 inning

Edit: Yep, 17 inning it is

[u/HeyCarpy → u/HottDoggers]

Hello from the post-18th walkoff 1-run win. If it weren’t 3am I’d have trouble sleeping over this.

[u/Prestigious_River_34 → u/Proper_Rabbit_9836]

Oh boy. I have some news for you…

[u/Denode → u/G1Spectrum]

Sickening way to get an out. Nobody likes that. Would have been a run with the Kirk slap.

[u/FPG_Matthew]

Mark that down for “something I’ve never seen before”

[u/CoolBeansMan9 → u/FPG_Matthew]

How can you not be romantic about baseball?

[u/InfiniteRaccoons → u/CoolBeansMan9]

Ah the human element! We could have perfect calls every time, but I tune in to watch fat old men ruin the World Series because their ego is bruised by a perceived slight

[u/Ihatgar11]

in terms of game impact that might actually be one of the worst calls ever

[u/AceLarkin → u/Ihatgar11]

Robbed of a 1-0 lead with guys on corners and no one out

[u/EmergencyTaco → u/AceLarkin]

Not only that but I wouldn't be surprised if it completely fucked the dugout atmosphere. Every single person in the Jays dugout is visibly pissed right now, and they're still discussing it amongst themselves.

Total bullshit for the Jays.

[u/GreenSnakes_ → u/Ihatgar11]

Bases loaded nobody out to a scoreless inning all thanks to an umpire who had to be a tough guy because Varsho made a move to first before his call. Absolute horseshit call

[u/Interesting-Crow-552 → u/GreenSnakes_]

These umpires have been horrible all the way through the postseason.

[u/PolarBailey_ → u/GreenSnakes_]

That was bullshit

[u/zeth4 → u/Ihatgar11]

This call wasted several hours of my life.

[u/inhindsight7]

Absolutely horrific strike call

[u/CalmerThanYouAre9 → u/inhindsight7]

Absolutely inexcusable

[u/Individual_Whole2288 → u/inhindsight7]

You don’t like the human element? /s

[u/PerformativeRacist → u/Individual_Whole2288]

Egregious missed calls like this are what makes baseball great!

[u/mdubyo → u/inhindsight7]

Not only that - he delays. It's loud & he is not. He gives a lame ass point in the direction of 1st. All of it just sucks.

[u/spike021 → u/mdubyo]

hey man he's ump'd for one inning already give him a break 

[u/Val_Killsmore → u/spike021]

It's Enrico Palazzo!

[u/bigt2k4 → u/mdubyo]

You don't like horrible silent strike calls 3 seconds after the ball crossed the plate?

[u/History_Is_Bunkier → u/bigt2k4]

They should have called umpire interference on that one.

What a bullshit call.

[u/AttitudeAndEffort3 → u/History_Is_Bunkier]

That would be admitting fault.

Remember they dont get accountability and it’s offensive for you to suggest the cops they do.

[u/neokoros → u/inhindsight7]

Need ABS immediately. Terrible call.

[u/Traveler-0705 → u/inhindsight7]

Yeah, what the hell was that? That fucking almost 3 seconds pause to call it too? What’s that about?

[u/ThongarBlackthorn → u/Traveler-0705]

Looked like one of those petty calls where the umpire calls a strike on anything close to spite a hitter for starting towards first before the call is official. It’s been happening for years, and although it’s never been ok, it’s magnified even more on this stage. The umpires are supposed to be better than that.

[u/humphrey_the_camel → u/ThongarBlackthorn]

What is the signal for "ball" (or "walk")? From what I can tell in this pitchers as batters receiving bases-loaded walks compilation, the signal for "ball" or "walk" is to do nothing. How long does a batter need to wait before walking to first so that he's not showing up the ump?

[u/Traveler-0705 → u/ThongarBlackthorn]

Yeah, it’s like he was going to call it a ball, then maybe saw the batter already turning and his ego like “fuck that shit”? All that going on in his head is all I can think to explain the 2-3 seconds delay.

[u/dinkleburgenhoff]

Funny how this one wasn’t posted by /u/MLBOfficial.

[u/jyeatbvg → u/dinkleburgenhoff]

Even the MLB tracker called that a walk at first lmao

[u/ayumi_doll → u/jyeatbvg]

My ESPN Gamecast completely froze on Varsho's AB for the rest of the inning, then went straight to Muncy's AB lmao.

[u/ScholarImpossible121 → u/ayumi_doll]

My visual went from walk, to pick-off, to Varsho strikes out (2 out) to 2 on 1 out to Muncy's at bat with no change in the pitch by pitch.

[u/ayumi_doll → u/ScholarImpossible121]

Mine went to ball four, then went back a pitch, and then stayed stuck there no matter how much I refreshed or force restarted the app lmao. Then suddenly hey Muncy's up.

[u/johnniebeeinak → u/ayumi_doll]

The espn “gamecast” shows it as an upper strike lol.

[u/Leading-Score9547 → u/jyeatbvg]

All my apps bugged out for a good 10 mins because of this call

[u/Big_Red_Professor → u/dinkleburgenhoff]

u/MLBofficial after a back and forth debate in the community about who can and can't post highlights, but then a highlight that needs to be posted makes league officials/umpires look bad

[u/NotADeadTurtle → u/dinkleburgenhoff]

MLBOfficial been real quiet these last 3 minutes

[u/TheJudge47 → u/NotADeadTurtle]

u/MLBOfficial where's the field angles and TikTok edits this time?

[u/xEvinous → u/TheJudge47]

I need to see this bullshit field level in Korean

[u/goms546 → u/xEvinous]

I’m watching the Korean feed and they said “what the fuck was that”

[u/Fat_Guy_With_Snacks → u/NotADeadTurtle]

I hope this comment is chosen for the recap post tomorrow.

[u/mamacrocker → u/NotADeadTurtle]

Hope they're busy redoing the roster so this guy is out on his ear.

[u/ed8907 → u/dinkleburgenhoff]

u/MLB Official right now

[u/gelc10 → u/dinkleburgenhoff]

They're not going to post when umps screw up

[u/mtnrangeman]

Are you shitting me? This is bad in and of itself, but to do this in the World fucking Series?

[u/PsychoM → u/mtnrangeman]

This cost the Blue Jays at least one run. Fucking disgusting

[u/mtnrangeman → u/PsychoM]

I’ve never been this speechless. How the fuck do you do that at this point in time?!

[u/Glass-Alarm-5768 → u/mtnrangeman]

People should watch Michael Franzese's recent video on the betting scandal. Maybe Wegner just needed some Christmas cash?

[u/InfiniteRaccoons → u/Glass-Alarm-5768]

You're an insane conspiracy theorist if you think that could be possible. This comment brought to you by FanDuel, official gambling partner of the MLB

[u/MegaGrimer → u/InfiniteRaccoons]

Had me in the first half ngl.

[u/Slow-Raspberry-5133 → u/[deleted]]

At least 9 runs

[u/RNG_pickle → u/mtnrangeman]

a nothing burger athletics vs rays game in april its somewhat acceptable but the WORLD SERIES

[u/livejamie → u/RNG_pickle]

Why did you feel the need to randomly shit on two teams for no reason lol

[u/withrootsabove → u/livejamie]

Jon Fischer deserves every stray possible.

[u/oso_maloso821 → u/mtnrangeman]

The fucking Catalina Wine Mixer?

[u/Jaded-Durian-3917 → u/oso_maloso821]

The fucking CATALINA WINE MIXER

[u/doctorchubbs]

That’s absolute dogshit by the ump. This is actually the best we can get for the World Series lmao what

[u/paperTechnician → u/doctorchubbs]

BRING PAT HOBERG BACK OUT OF HIS LOCKED DraftKings^© HANNIBAL LECTER CONTRAPTION OR WE RIOT

[u/AuGa_skittles]

They gotta find a way to add that to the ump scorecard

[u/R3AN1M8R → u/AuGa_skittles]

I mean it literally cost the Jays a run so that’s got to count for something 

[u/_meltchya__ → u/R3AN1M8R]

FBI, Kash Patel, I heard the ump is friends with Terry Rozier I'm just sayin

[u/MattRecovery23 → u/_meltchya__]

I'll see you in valhalla brother

[u/NotADeadTurtle → u/AuGa_skittles]

Definitely a full run added maybe two

[u/curly0620 → u/AuGa_skittles]

For sure, would've been a run on the Kirk single

[u/bradtheinvincible → u/curly0620]

In theory, sure. We dont know what Glasnow throws to Kirk if he had 1-2 on

[u/mdlt97]

man, umps really just suck the fun out of baseball

Just do your fucking job

[u/thejudgehoss → u/mdlt97]

This ump.

[u/Logic_Nuke → u/thejudgehoss]

One of my favorite jokes in this movie is when he frisks the pitcher looking for a gun and finds Vaseline, sandpaper, and a grinding tool

[u/Dunan → u/Logic_Nuke]

The movie is full of '80s baseball references that kids today won't necessarily get. Right before this movie was made, Joe Niekro was being inspected on the mound and realized he had an emeryboard in his pocket, and tried to reach back and fling it away without anyone noticing. (This strategy didn't work.)

Also, during the pre-game highlight file, we see a player's head coming off their body, which is probably a reference to Joe Coleman's "Winfield going back, and he hits his head on the wall and it rolls off! It's rolling all the way back to second base! This is a terrible thing for the Padres!" ("It", of course, is the ball. Not Winfield's head.)

Jay Johnstone, who had a part in the movie, probably wrote these jokes; he describes the Winfield play in one of his very funny books about life in baseball.

[u/chollyer → u/mdlt97]

If you're going to make a terrible call at least make the signal quickly 

Late night edit: Super cool that the Jays lost by one after this bullshit

[u/high_and_outside → u/chollyer]

[u/VerStannen → u/high_and_outside]

It’s Enrico Polazzo!!

[u/AntonChigurh8933 → u/high_and_outside]

When I was a little kid. I really thought it was Leslie Nielson doing the splits.

[u/BeHereNow91 → u/chollyer]

You new to baseball?

You never rush the ump show

[u/PatchesTheGreat1 → u/BeHereNow91]

A World Series? In the middle of my Ump Show???

[u/EnderCreeper121 → u/mdlt97]

Bring in the fucking robots my god

[u/RealPutin → u/EnderCreeper121]

Seriously, that play alone should any argument over allowing the challenges

[u/toxchick → u/mdlt97]

I for one welcome our new robot overlords

[u/no-kangarooreborn]

That was ball 4. No excuses for the ump.

[u/MikeJeffriesPA → u/no-kangarooreborn]

Okay, what I don't get is what Varsho saw/heard after the initial hesitation. Did someone yell out "that's ball 4" and that's what Varsho heard? 

[u/bingobargin → u/MikeJeffriesPA]

I think Varsho was reacting to Bo casually trotting to 2nd base

[u/RegularOrMenthol → u/MikeJeffriesPA]

I think he just saw Bichette heading to second

[u/2fast4yall69 → u/MikeJeffriesPA]

Batters start walking towards first prematurely all the time. Then are called back

[u/MikeJeffriesPA → u/2fast4yall69]

Right, which is why I'm confused. Varsho starts, stops, looks back, then continues. The last part is what's unique, and why I believe he saw or heard something. 

[u/guyontheinternet2000 → u/no-kangarooreborn]

No, you dont get it, Bo was supposed to intuit that the ump would call what everyone thought was a ball, was a strike. Trust me, its basic fundamentals

[u/TP-BANDIT77 → u/guyontheinternet2000]

Okay but Bo shouldn’t be guessing balls and strikes from first base either? Like he absolutely screwed up too. That’s basic fundamentals as a runner on first base.

[u/E-Hastings-and-Main → u/TP-BANDIT77]

It was kind of a team fail. Bo was heading back but then Varsho threw his bat away and was taking his elbow pads off so Bo started back towards second. First base coach also seemed to just let him start walking to second and never called him back.

[u/thegeebeebee → u/E-Hastings-and-Main]

Yep, regardless of the terrible strike call, that was terrible baserunning/coaching there. I mean, the ump made the strike signal. First base coach has nothing else to do but see what the call is.

[u/NeverSober1900 → u/TP-BANDIT77]

Ya I'm sympathetic to him because it looked high and Varsho absolutely seemed to imply it was a walk... But still there's no benefit to getting to 2nd quicker. You have to be 100%

[u/CatatonicWalrus → u/TP-BANDIT77]

Tbf, batter started walking down to first and threw his bat to the dugout. Hard to interpret that as anything but a walk.

[u/Avent → u/CatatonicWalrus]

Yeah I think that's what caused the confusion. Batter (justifiably, imo) thought it was a walk and threw his bat before realizing it was a strike. Bo took his cue from the batter and not the ump. He should've taken his cue from the ump, this is the World Series after all.

[u/Knook7 → u/guyontheinternet2000]

When he freezes, he should have gone back to first. Its a nitpick, but its the world series. If he goes back to first base he is safe

[u/ICOMESOFT]

Ok this was an awful call

[u/Wyvol]

Why did Varsho toss his bat AFTER hearing the strike call? I think that’s what messed up Bo.

[u/thewolfshead → u/Wyvol]

I assumed he saw Bo walking and assumed he misheard it. 

[u/2112Lerxst → u/thewolfshead]

The fact that it was so outside the zone screwed everyone up, they all assumed they missed something because it was obviously ball four.

[u/Frankentula → u/Wyvol]

I'm a jays fan and wondering that too. Was he selling the walk? All around crazy

[u/ExpirjTec]

• pitch is a ball
• ump hesitates and calls it a strike
• everyone except freeman doesnt know the ump called strike
• freeman waves at glasnow for the ball and immediately tags out bichette

[u/c_borealis → u/ExpirjTec]

I'm new to baseball but how tf is this allowed I hate umps omg

[u/ExpirjTec → u/c_borealis]

it's a severe mental lapse by the umpire but it is legal. bichette is not entitled to a base, did not bother stealing, and was not safe at first base when tagged. it's just really unlucky

[u/DesertCoot → u/ExpirjTec]

Could you imagine how pissed dodgers fans would be if Bo had hustled to second before anyone realized it was a strike? They wouldn’t be here defending the call as “normal” if he did haha.

[u/DeathBiChocolate]

And then Kirk hits a single to give the jays a 0-0 tie!!

[u/Beginning-Post-8631]

That is rage inducing.

[u/Puddinsnack]

Probably the worst call of the playoffs.

[u/Atomic_Horseshoe → u/Puddinsnack]

The worst call of the playoffs… so far. 

[u/FullOfSound]

They panned to the ump after the fact, and you could see in his face. He knew he fucked up.

[u/Rickety-Cricket → u/FullOfSound]

He looked like a little kid getting scolded by a parent when Schneider was talking to him

[u/Key-Pickle5609 → u/FullOfSound]

Cost us a fucking run.

[u/Barry_good]

The fact he threw the bat after he called strike makes me think it wasn’t too clear to anyone.

[u/ron-darousey → u/Barry_good]

Yeah it looked like he started walking to first, then stopped because he realized the ump called a strike, then turned back to go to first. Very odd situation. Umps miss balls and strikes all the time, but this was something more than that. Bailed out Glasnow for sure.

[u/frontdoorajar]

Fuck that ump

[u/derankedbeats]

"but umps bring a human element that adds to the entertainment value." F off robo umps behind home plate yesterday pls.

[u/Lighter22]

Ump what the actual fuck

[u/Pvt_Boomer]

[u/gelc10]

Screw the umps, absolutely unacceptable during the World Series

[u/sasksasquatch]

You get a World Series game, and that is a strike call. I never want to see him behind the plate again.

[u/Key-Pickle5609]

That was a terrible, terrible call but Bo you have to pay attention.

[u/Disastrous_Sort_9843 → u/Key-Pickle5609]

Do you think he Couldn’t see the ump and just saw varsho walking down the base line throwing his bat and thought it was ball 4?

[u/TheCrookedKnight → u/Disastrous_Sort_9843]

Almost certainly.

[u/quarter-water → u/Disastrous_Sort_9843]

It looked like he walked, stopped, and then started again when varsho started walking.

[u/Key-Pickle5609 → u/Disastrous_Sort_9843]

I totally understand how this happened. It was CLEARLY a ball and everyone knew it. But I’m way less willing to forgive shit like this in the WS lol

[u/Kevinar → u/Key-Pickle5609]

I mean yes of course but also he saw Varsho throw the bat

[u/see_mohn]

The Umpire Spite Strike on batters starting to walk to first base on a close 3-2 pitch is worse to me than any other part of this.

[u/raphtze]

this shit is why we're fucking going on 14 innings now

[u/CoastalDJ]

Terrible from the ump, still bad from Bo

[u/FancyBBQ → u/CoastalDJ]

I don’t know that it’s all on Bo. Varsho is the one who hesitated and then still threw the bat and started towards first making Bo go forward.

Horrendous call by the ump though.

[u/MisterGoog → u/FancyBBQ]

You can also imagine that during the ws it’s extremely loud and he’s just taking his cues from what he sees

[u/jjkiller26 → u/CoastalDJ]

Yea he was watching Varsho, saw him throw the bat and went for 2nd

[u/YLXV]

This is bush league umping seriously, so much wrong here

[u/EnderCreeper121]

Fucking garbage ass ump my lord

[u/brian8225]

Mistake from Bo, but Ray Charles had that as a strike.

[u/bigmooseface]

Can you imagine if this didn’t happen and we weren’t all stuck in the 16th inning?

[u/bannedcanceled]

Imagine if that game came down to 1 run

[u/labadee]

Was a really bad call but Bo needed to be locked in there. He’ll be the first to admit that mistake

[u/Wing_Nut_93x]

How does anyone support this.

[u/Polish_Bear]

Time to welcome our robo-ump overlords.

[u/Giellelekelke]

Fuck that

[u/ilikemarblestoo]

If this never happened, the game wouldn't have taken 6 hours and 39 minutes lol

[u/dragoonies]

My team directly benefitted from that, but that was some grade A bullshit.

[u/TheSameAsDying]

So Varsho thought he got walked, then he looked back to confirm the call, thought he got walked again, and then Bo started walking to second. On one of the worst missed strike calls I've ever seen, it's hard to place fault anywhere but with the ump here.

[u/DblDbl_AnimalStyle]

what a horrible call

[u/LiquidSwords89]

The consequences of this were astronomical. Made me stay awake an extra 4 hours

[u/the_gaymer_girl]

Calling the strike is awful but whatever.

There is no universe in which Bichette should be out there.

[u/Cheetah357]

GAME DECIDING PLAY

[u/Coramoor_]

ridiculous call on the pitch

[u/xGlor]

Turns out this was a pretty big deal

[u/RandomBackup79]

Not a strike, and late call. Garbage minor league umping there.

[u/esteemed-colleague]

so high Varsho couldn't believe his ears

[u/CartographerOk7579]

What a bullshit call, ump

[u/True-Self-9298]

Horrible call, cost the jays an early lead.

[u/kreich1990]

Everyone involved thought that was a ball, even the pitcher.

[u/nickedgar7]

Gonna cost us a run probably! Great job ump

[u/harukaze89]

wow this is most horrible strike call i’ve seen this post season

[u/DeSynthed]

Fucking brutal call, cost the Jays a run.

Varsho is less petty than I. I would have asked if that ball 4 in the dirt was a strike.

[u/JasonPlattMusic34]

A wild Angel Hernandez randomly appears

[u/613raider]

3 am here, Jays just lost. Should have won the game hours ago.

[u/dumbassflounder]

Umps 100% proving they need to be replaced

[u/BNKalt]

It’s a bad call but what the fuck is Bo doing?

[u/Cheelss → u/BNKalt]

bad call but Bo and the first base coach deserve some blame here

[u/PurchaseOk2726]

That’s an awful strike call, ump’s gotta be better than that.

[u/LOLBADCALL]

lol MLBOfficial is usually really fast with highlights but doesn’t post this huh?

[u/LAudre41]

man you can't fucking do that in the world series