Kevin Gausman threw two nearly identical pitches to the same hitter during an at-bat. The first was called a strike. The second, which was slightly higher but in the same zone, was called a ball. A side-by-side overlay confirmed how close the pitches were in location. The only clear difference came from the catcher’s setup. On the first strike, the catcher stayed square and received the pitch cleanly. On the second, he switched his leg positioning and had to reach awkwardly, making the same pitch look off. The umpire reacted to the presentation rather than the location.
This moment shows how much framing and catcher positioning can influence calls, even with little change in actual pitch location. It raises questions about consistency behind the plate. Whether or not the umpire should consider how a pitch looks instead of where it is, it still plays a role. Players know that and sometimes pay the price for mechanical differences outside their control.