In a game where tensions boiled hotter than a summer barbecue, Major League Baseball found itself at the center of a storm. The Detroit Tigers’ latest showdown didn’t just ruffle feathers—it ignited a firestorm over officiating decisions that left fans and experts questioning the very fairness of the sport. Sometimes, the real drama unfolds far beyond the diamond’s edge.

At this point in the season, the umpires have become a joke. They are making calls that even a noob could make, and they are not even trying to hide it. They are doing it so blatantly that you might as well not bat because you might as well swing at the ball because you know the call is coming. This is exactly what happened with the Tigers and Javier Baez.

The umpire made this call during the game against the SF Giants, and the fans are not having any of it. MLB analyst Rob Friedman is now calling for the league to eject the umpire for making a bad call. In an X post, he stated, “Can we eject Phil Cuzzi for this call? [Javy Baez ejected for having a better eye than Cuzzi],” and looking at the call made, he is right.

What’s worse in this whole saga is the fact that this isn’t the first time Cuzzi’s name has been linked to bad calls. He has been inconsistent throughout the season, and even in past seasons, he has made some bad calls. Last year in August, he made a wrong ball-strike call in the Brewers vs. Reds game, and when Brewers DH William Contreras argued, he was ejected from the game. In 2025, Cuzzi has officiated 10 games and has a consistency rate of 93.1%. While this may look good, for an umpire, it is not, and he lacks big time there.

Each season, the strike zone seems to shift like sand—unstable, unreliable, and utterly confusing. Umpires have somehow become consistently inconsistent, a rare talent nobody asked for. What once felt like human error now feels like performance art with a blindfold. Fans aren’t keeping score—they’re keeping count of blown calls, and the numbers aren’t pretty.

When the officials start calling the game like it’s a comedy sketch, it’s no wonder frustration boils over on the field—and in the stands. If MLB wants to keep its credibility intact, it might be time to rethink who’s behind the mask. Because at this rate, the real question isn’t who’s winning the game, but who’s actually watching it.

Tigers fans call for the removal of the ump after a blown call

There’s a fine line between human error and habitual incompetence, and MLB might be toeing it a little too confidently. As the Tigers took the field expecting a fair fight, they instead got front-row seats to another ump show. In a league that claims precision, it’s becoming clear: some calls have less to do with baseball and more with blind faith.

After yet another missed strike call, Tigers fans had one unified thought: “ABS cannot come soon enough.” Tensions boiled as umps tossed players like confetti—20 ejections this season for arguing obvious blown calls. Cuzzi’s strike zone has been more unpredictable than Michigan weather, and fans are done guessing. With ump accuracy dropping below 94% in key games, trust is cracking—and fans are losing patience fast.

“The Cuzzi short fuse on full display today 🤦‍♂️🤡” perfectly captured fans’ boiling frustration. In 2023 alone, Cuzzi ranked among the worst in called-strike accuracy, just 91.6% on record. He’s ejected five players in two seasons for simply reacting to his own blown calls. With moments like these piling up, fans aren’t just mad—they’re begging: bring on the ABS already.

“It’s always Phil Cuzzi. Doesn’t matter where he is on the diamond…”—and fans are sick of it. From botched fair/foul calls to strike zones that drift like clouds, he’s consistently inconsistent everywhere. In 2023, Cuzzi’s blown call in left field in the Yankees vs. Guardians cost a crucial double. Add ejections for mild protests, and fans are done—Automatic Ball-Strike System can’t arrive fast enough.

“Seeing a lot of this lately across MLB. Bad calls followed by player and mgr tossing.” Umpire accuracy has dipped below 93% in over 30 games this season—fans aren’t imagining things. Ejections are up, patience is down, and the strike zone feels more like a moving target. With over 200 blown ball-strike calls already, fans are pleading: bring in ABS before someone explodes.

“Average ump show in 2025” is starting to sound less like sarcasm and more like scheduling. Umpires have already missed over 2,000 ball-strike calls this season—and it’s only May. Quick ejections and shrinking strike zones have become the new normal, not the exception. Fans aren’t watching baseball—they’re watching meltdowns. It’s time ABS took the mic from the drama kings.

When “average ump show” becomes a genre, not a complaint, something’s clearly broken behind the plate. The game’s integrity shouldn’t hinge on guesswork and grudges dressed in blue. Fans have stopped pretending it’s fine as umpires eject players for blinking wrong and let strike zones play hide-and-seek. If MLB truly values accuracy and fairness, then it’s time to stop stalling—let ABS call the shots.