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C.B. Bucknor, MLB umpire, has caught flak yet again after a controversial call to conclude a match following a three-hour rain delay. This has added to the rising number of disputed calls he has made during the 2024 season.
The game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox terminated when Bucknor declared a third strike against Cardinals’ Ivan Herrera, a decision that seemed to fall clearly outside the strike zone. This resulted in a narrow 6-5 victory for the White Sox after 10 innings, even though the Cardinals commenced with bases loaded and no outs.
Herrera was set up to pinch-hit for lefty Nolan Gorman when White Sox’s Tanner Banks sent a low, outside fastball. Bucknor was rapid to declare Herrera out, leaving the player astounded in the batter’s box. The call was met with incredulity, with the Cardinals’ TV announcers exclaiming, “After all of that, he’s gonna call a pitch off the plate.”
Following the match, Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol addressed the contentious call without directly naming Bucknor, criticizing the decision. This misstep adds to a string of contentious calls made by Bucknor, who had earlier faced backlash for an ill-judged call against Baltimore Orioles’ rising star Gunnar Henderson.
The issue further encapsulates criticisms against MLB umpires faced since the season’s start. While acknowledging the task’s difficulties, critics state that disputed calls, particularly in crucial scenarios, are not what teams expect.
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