MLB’s umpiring issue continues, and it is taking a more embarrassing turn by the day. Since the opening week, we have already witnessed wrong strike calls and check swings, but this time, the latest botch by CB Bucknor just took the cake. During the Brewers-Rays game, Bucknor called Jake Bauers out for getting tagged despite the infielder failing to catch the throw. And it was so evident that fans seemed to have had enough and were demanding Bucknor’s ouster.

“C.B. Bucknor called Jake Bauers out for getting tagged after he stepped over first base, except Bucknor wasn’t even looking at Bauers, who definitely hit the bag. The call was overturned,” Foul Territory shared.

The reply showed that Bucknor was not even looking at the play, and there were miles between the throw and Bauers. “Where is CB Bucknor looking?” the announcers were asking.

The incident began in the sixth inning after Brewers batter Jake Bauers hit a hard line drive to Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Ben Williamson. As Bauers sprinted down the line, Williamson rushed the throw, sailing it well over the first baseman’s head. Bauers touched first base comfortably, but shockingly, the umpire officiating at first, CB Bucknor, wasn’t even watching the play.

Incredibly, Bucknor called Bauers out, claiming the Rays’ first baseman made the tag. The decision even made Bauers smile in surprise, who immediately tapped his helmet to signal for a review. ABS followed, and the replay clearly showed that Bauers touched first base comfortably. The call was overturned, but the fans wonder how Bucknor is still employed with MLB.

“I’m sure there will be more impactful calls turned over than what we’ve had so far, but just with everyone getting their feet wet, it’s always good to tap the helmet and be right,” Bauers chose to take the high road after the game. However, while Bauers ensured he would not get suspended for taking the umpire’s name, the fans have no such reservations.

Umpire Bucknor has now been at the center of two huge controversies in the opening week. His Saturday performance behind the plate during the Red Sox-Brewers game already had the MLB world demanding his ouster. During the game, he had six calls overturned by the ABS.

Later in the game, he called a check swing on Trevor Story without consulting the first base umpire. This led to Alex Cora arguing the call and ultimately his ejection. This, combined with the latest blunder, has made the fans demand a tough call against him.

Fans demand a tough call against CB Bucknor

Fans wonder how MLB is still working with Bucknor despite such repeated errors. “MLB, how does this guy continue to be employed by you? Isn’t MLB supposed to be the best of the best?” One fan asked. “He needs to be suspended immediately for incompetence. Wtf was he even looking at?” Another added.

While a wrong strike call is part of baseball, the latest one is something that even caught the fans in the stands by surprise. There was so much gap between Bauers and the ball that it was quite visible from any angle that Bauers comfortably touched first base before the fielder got the ball. However, Bucknor was not looking at the play, and thus, as he called Bauers out, it was an embarrassing scene over a mere wrong call.

Just when MLB is trying to offer the best of the best, including using ABS to improve their product, fans wonder why the focus on improvement doesn’t extend to the umpires. However, it is also true that ABS is actually helping in overturning these calls. Otherwise, these calls are enough to change the course of the game.

“Probably time for him to retire. Never thought someone could out Hernandez Hernandez, but lo and behold, we got Bucknor!” One user said. “Most umps are pretty good and make few mistakes. Bucknor is not the most umpires. He gets a lot wrong,” another added.

Well, every time CB Bucknor botches a call, the obvious comparison comes with Angel Hernandez. Back in 2023, Umpire Scorecards rated Hernandez’s accuracy at 84% and his consistency at 91%. That was the lowest among all MLB umpires at that time. In the case of Bucknor, he was voted as the worst umpire by ESPN in 2010.

So, as per the fans, while Hernandez is no longer in baseball, Bucknor is carrying his legacy forward. “This guy needs to go, he is horrific !!” another added. So, it seems like the fans have had enough after witnessing the Brewers-Rays game.

Let’s now see if MLB takes any action amid the strong pushback from the fans.