Mets and Pirates broadcast teams couldn’t grasp the umpire’s questionable strike zone

Saturday’s clash between the New York Mets and Pittsburgh Pirates featured a series of misjudgments by home plate umpire John Tumpane, shocking and frustrating the Mets and Pirates television crews alike.

Tumpane had a pretty shaky strike zone throughout the game, but this was especially evident in the bottom of the seventh inning, perhaps the most important moment of the game for both teams.

The Pirates were able to load the bases, trailing 5-2, with outfielder Jack Suwinski scoring the lead run at the plate. His at-bat was marked by some very questionable strike calls, to say the least. In particular, the second pitch of the at-bat and the fifth pitch, the latter of which would have been ball four, were very clearly below the strike zone.

The Pirates commentary team of Greg Brown and Kevin Young on Sportsnet Pittsburgh was immediately outraged by the miscall, which should have left the game 5-3 had Suwinski been correctly given a walk.

“Strike called, oh my goodness,” Brown said. “It should be 5 to 3! Oh, brother!”

“Unbelievable,” Young said. “Unbelievable. Not only was the pitch down, it was comfortably off the plate.”

An umpire’s appearance derailed a situation with the bases full for the Pirates, who were trailing the Mets 5-2.

Terrible decisions at 1-0 and 3-1 with Jack Suwinski at bat; manager Derek Shelton was ejected.

“STRIKE DECLARED, OH MY GOD! IT SHOULD BE 5 TO 3! OH BROTHER!”

About SportsNet Pittsburgh: pic.twitter.com/yxNNNim4j1

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Meanwhile, the Mets broadcast team on SNY, consisting of Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez, had to admit that the Mets got away with some very lucky strike decisions on these pitches.

“Wow,” Hernandez said. “Oh my God… That’s, um… That was ball four.”

“A little low,” said Cohen. “But nicely framed by the Torrens.”

Even the Mets’ SNY broadcast couldn’t believe it.pic.twitter.com/ZWRMWVMGl0

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Understandably, the Pirates team was furious about these missed calls. Pirates manager Derek Shelton began yelling at Tumpane. And it wasn’t long before Tumpane ejected him from the game.

Pirates manager Derek Shelton was ejected by home plate umpire John Tumpane after it appeared that Tumpane had called the fourth ball against Jack Suwinski for a strike. pic.twitter.com/C8CsTuEq90

— SNY (@SNYtv) July 6, 2024

Suwinski misfired on the next pitch, ending the Pirates’ best chance at a comeback. The Mets maintained their lead and took a 5-2 victory.

Honestly, no one really knows what would have happened if Suwinski had gotten a walk, as he clearly should have in that at-bat. But the Pirates were clearly robbed of at least the chance to pitch a big inning thanks to those missed calls by John Tumpane.

After the game, Derek Shelton was asked about his sending off and the circumstances surrounding it in his press conference. He wisely denied getting himself into more trouble, but confirmed that he believed the decision was wrong.

“From my perspective? I think you pretty much saw what I was thinking and I should probably refrain from any further comment,” Shelton said. “So, you saw it and you saw my reaction to it. I mean, Jack (Suwinski) never reacts… Probably one of the calmest guys. For him to react like that and start the (pitch) clock that fast. I don’t think I was particularly happy with that, as you can tell by the hoarseness of my voice right now. Like I said, you can look at it and tell me what you think.”

Derek Shelton: “From my perspective? I think you’ve pretty much understood what I was thinking and I should probably refrain from further comment.” pic.twitter.com/f7hoty0AvZ

— Awful Announcement (@awfulannouncing) July 6, 2024

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