New York Mets star Jeff McNeil is the latest victim of an awful strike call thanks to home plate umpire Adam Beck.
In Justin Verlander’s return to Detroit, home plate umpire Adam Beck is determined to be the ultimate takeaways from Thursday afternoon’s game between the Mets and Tigers.
Beck made several rough decisions in the first couple of innings, none worse than a strike three call against Jeff McNeil. The Mets utilityman has a low strikeout rate for a reason. His understanding of the strike zone is impressive to say the least. Beck called a very, very low strike on McNeil, which resulted in a shocking reaction from McNeil and some yelling, which is also unusual for him.
McNeil was halfway to first base, only for Beck to punch him out in humiliating fashion.
Mets: Jeff McNeil called out in humiliating way
If there were ever an argument for robot umpires, it’s this. While the electronic strike zone may take the human element out of the game, sometimes that’s a good thing. Beck’s so-called human element is expanding the strike zone to the point of no return. Unless the ball is in the dirt, it’s a strike, right Adam?
Umpires seem to care a lot when players don’t wait for the call, especially on a pitch that is reasonably close. If that’s the case, and Beck called McNeil out as a result, then it’s borderline unprofessional.
Major-league umpires know they’re up against it, with an automated strike zone looming. Because of that, there’s more pressure now than ever to get the calls right. Yet, somehow, decisions like the one which led to McNeil’s freakout happen. Someone make it make sense.
Sure, McNeil ought to keep his cool, but there is no replay in baseball. Once a bad decision is made, it cannot be reverse. The Mets suffered in this case.
