Watch: MLB umpires already in midseason form with horrendous missed call in Cubs-Rangers game
Barely a day into the 2024 MLB season, umpires are already under fire for an egregious error.
During Thursday's Opening Day matchup between the Chicago Cubs and the defending World Series champion Texas Rangers, a blunder by home plate umpire Chad Fairchild nearly changed the game's outcome. With two outs in the ninth of a 2-2 ballgame, Fairchild ruled what should have been a foul ball a passed ball, leading to the Cubs' go-ahead run.
For those wondering why there wasn't a review of the play, the answer shouldn't be surprising. As Jeff Passan of ESPN clarified, despite the technology that exists in 2024, the scenario is unreviewable according to the official MLB rule book.
Fortunately for the Rangers, the botch didn't matter in the end. Pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski tied the game with a solo home run in the bottom of the ninth before catcher Jonah Heim's walk-off single won it for Texas in the 10th.
After the game, manager Bruce Bochy tried to shift the blame back onto the players, saying they needed to "finish the play." But the reaction of Heim and others after a foul ball was normal and their lack of urgency shouldn't take Fairchild off the hook.
Fair or not, umpires are under almost constant scrutiny, but it's been clear for a while now that MLB can do better.
Change is inevitable. An automated strike zone is likely to be implemented soon and a commonsense fix is also needed to avoid repeating incidents like the one that almost cost the Rangers a game.
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