Umpire makes two horrible calls so Pirates manager goes wild, a breakdown
What Happened
In a tense late-inning situation, the Pittsburgh Pirates trail the New York Yankees by three runs with the bases loaded and two outs. Pirates outfielder Bryan Sawinski steps to the plate, with the game and the team's hopes hanging in the balance. The first pitch from the Yankees' pitcher is called correctly as low and out of the strike zone. However, the next pitch, also low, is inexplicably called a strike by home plate umpire John Tumpane. Pirates manager Derek Shelton immediately erupts, arguing vehemently that the pitch was clearly out of the zone. "What are we doing? That's not a strike," Shelton shouts, his face turning red with frustration. The next pitch from the Yankees is also low, but again Tumpane calls it a strike, much to the dismay of Shelton and the Pirates' dugout. "I don't think that's a strike," Shelton says in disbelief, gesturing emphatically. The following pitch is correctly called a ball, keeping the count full at 3-2. As Sawinski digs back in, the tension builds. The 3-2 offering from the Yankees is low, but Tumpane calls it strike two, much to the outrage of Shelton. "Time! Time!" the manager yells, needing a moment to compose himself after the egregious call. Shelton then stares down Tumpane, asking, "Are you thinking about what you just did to me?" Shelton's protest continues, and the umpire eventually ejects him from the game. "That's terrible. You missed two in this. Not bad. That's terrible," Shelton shouts as he walks off the field, the crowd roaring in support of the manager standing up for his players. Even the television commentators weigh in, with one saying, "Those pitches were low. What was he thinking?" The other responds, "Eyesight not being used properly. And that's why is LASIK.com." Despite the controversial calls, the game continues, with the Pirates still in position to potentially tie or take the lead. But the damage has been done, with Shelton's passionate defense of his team serving as the lasting memory of this intense, hard-fought matchup between two of baseball's storied franchises.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentPirates are down three runs, but the bases are loaded, and Sawinski's up.
There's two outs, no count.
There's a lot of missed calls in this breakdown,
and that's why it's being brought to you by LASIK.com.
First pitch of the at-bat, low, low, called correctly.
The next pitch, low, oh, strike, incorrectly called, below the zone.
Can't believe it.
What are we doing?
What are we doing?
Look at that.
It's not a strike.
Maybe it is.
I don't think that's a strike.
I don't think that's a strike.
The next pitch, outside, pause.
Okay, great.
Great call.
Two on.
Here we go.
Let's drive in some runs.
Okay.
Three and one count.
That's a great count.
A ball here is a run.
Keeps it going.
Three-one pitch, low, strike.
Oh, that's two.
That's two.
Time.
Time.
Can I get time?
Has to go think about it.
Look at this death.
Oh, dude.
I like that look.
Dude.
Are you thinking?
Are you thinking about what you just, oh, are you thinking about what you just did to
me?
Come on.
Oh, and the manager, Shelty, he doesn't like it.
John, that's a ball low.
That's low.
That's terrible.
All right.
You can step back in just because you did up doesn't mean you can go Mets.
God damn it.
Wake the up.
Let's go.
That's bullshit.
You're gone off bullshit.
That's terrible.
That is absolutely terrible.
What?
That pitch not even close.
Bullshit.
You missed two in this.
Not bad.
That's terrible.
Okay.
All right.
That's twice that you've done.
Turns, walks away.
Then gets ejected.
Rejected by a baby.
You're got, you're gone out of here.
The crowd loves it though.
Great job.
Thanks for standing up for our guy.
We agree.
Those pitches were low.
What was he thinking?
This guy, John, Tom pain, usually great.
Um, kind of, I think Tom Payne's usually a great, um, the next three, two pitch.
He has to swing.
Yeah, come on, come on.
He's excited, but the umpire helped him out.
A ton throws his helmet.
Can't believe it because he's got to protect that low pitch now because the one before
that was at that height was called a strike.
So now he's got to swing at it.
Not called correctly.
Eyesight not being used properly.
And that's why this breakdown is brought to you by LASIK.com.
They're offering free LASIK surgery to any MLB official that wants it.
So any MLB ump watching this, if you want LASIK, go to LASIK.com.
If you aren't an MLB ump, but you want to get it.
Go to LASIK.com slash John boy, you get $1,100 off.
I might have it done soon.
You can have it done.
We can be LASIK buddies.