The Toronto Blue Jays have had a great run until now in the 2025 postseason. They beat the Yankees comfortably, but they seem to be struggling against the Mariners. After a tough loss in Game 1 of the ALCS, Game 2 is not off to a great start, and the umpires might have played a big part in the Mariners taking the lead.

The first inning of Game 2 went for 33 pitches, and the Seattle Mariners also scored 3 runs, but things could have been different if the umpires had made a better call. And as pointed out by Talkin’ Baseball, “Everyone except the umpire knew this should have been strike three.” 

The moment that could’ve tilted momentum came early.

When the count was 1–2, Trey Yesavage threw a pitch that appeared to paint the strike zone, but the umpire called it a ball. After that, Randy Arozarena battled to another full count and was hit by a pitch, putting the leadoff man on base. Then Raleigh walked, giving the Mariners two immediate baserunners before a single pitch even left the bat.

Because of those two free passes, Julio Rodriguez stepped to the plate with two men aboard and launched a three-run homer, turning a fragile situation into a commanding 3–0 lead. That one questionable call—calling a borderline pitch a ball—might’ve shaken Yesavage’s confidence, unraveling his rhythm and costing the Blue Jays three early runs.

Fans in the stands must’ve felt the air shift in that instant, as what looked like a fair duel went sharply against Toronto.

Yesavage will need to reset quickly, or the Mariners’ early lead could snowball uncontrollably.

Julio Rodríguez showed why patience pays, turning a borderline call into a decisive, almost theatrical advantage. Umpires might review their glasses after this one, because even fans knew strike three clearly existed.

Umpires cause more controversy in Game 2 of the ALCS between the Blue Jays and the Mariners

In a game where every pitch feels like a headline, the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners found themselves at the mercy of human judgment. The umpires, wielding their strike zones like unpredictable plot twists, quickly became the most talked-about players on the field.

The comment, “Doug Eddings completely screwed Trey on the first batter of the game,” reflects widespread frustration. Eddings has a history of questionable calls. In 2025, he was among the top four umpires with over 460 missed calls, according to Sportsnaut. In the 2025 regular season, umpires collectively missed 26,567 calls, including 1,203 strikeouts. Fans and analysts alike have criticized his performance, with some labeling him as “one of the worst umpires in the league for going on 2 decades.” This pattern of missed calls has led to calls for technological solutions to improve officiating accuracy.

The comment, “bull s–t fire doug eddings into the sun,” captures pure fan frustration and disbelief. Eddings’ accuracy fluctuates from 91.23% to 96.32%, fueling debates about his consistency and credibility. Fans feel every blown call, especially ones leading to three runs in a championship game, amplifies outrage. This one early-game mistake illustrates why Eddings’ variable performance keeps both players and fans constantly questioning him.

The comment, “Doug Eddings is the definition of an ump show. F—— dogs–t,” shows fan outrage. Eddings correctly called 4,546 out of 4,814 pitches, meaning he incorrectly called 268 this season. Fans see these 268 mistakes, especially critical ones, as magnified in high-stakes postseason games. This mismatch between correct and incorrect calls fuels frustration, making every controversial decision feel absolutely intolerable.

And the disbelief continued. “How the f–k is Doug Eddings allowed to ump an ALCS game in 2025.” Fans are stunned that a veteran umpire with a history of high-profile mistakes still receives marquee assignments. The early blown call leading to three runs intensified outrage, making Eddings the focus of social media fury. Critics argue that postseason games demand consistent accuracy, and Eddings’ performance falls short of those expectations.

There was shared outrage, too. “Mariners fans 🤝 Blue Jays fans 🤝 wanting Doug Eddings sent to prison.” Eddings’ inconsistency in high-pressure championship games has affected both teams, yet the Blue Jays suffered most. Early blown calls, like the three-run situation, highlight why fans question his reliability in crucial moments. This shared frustration underscores how one umpire’s mistakes can unite rival fanbases in sheer disbelief.

But all things aside, the Blue Jays must overcome early setbacks or risk letting the Mariners dominate decisively.