One Umpire Has Both New York Teams Crying Foul This Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated May 2, 2025 1:18 PM ET

It’s not easy to find something that both New York Yankees fans and New York Mets fans agree on, but umpire John Bacon is certainly trying to bring them together. Bacon has found himself in the crosshairs of both New York teams, drawing criticism from multiple MLB teams, for his recent officiating decisions.

In Thursday’s game between the New York Mets and the Arizona Diamondbacks, SNY broadcasters Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez openly criticized Bacon's call. Cohen remarked, "John Bacon doesn’t seem to know the difference between a ball hitting a bat and a bat hitting a glove," while Hernandez added, "Two series in a row, just el stinko."

This incident follows a contentious call in a Yankees-Rays game. Bacon's strike three call on Jazz Chisholm Jr. led to Chisholm's ejection and subsequent criticism on social media. Chisholm posted an expletive-laden message on X expressing his frustration over the call, which he later deleted. He was subsequently fined for violating MLB's social media policy.

It’s not just the Mets and Yankees that have had issues.

Bacon's officiating came under scrutiny during an Orioles-Blue Jays game on April 13. He ejected Orioles manager Brandon Hyde after a disputed strike call on Jordan Westburg. Reports indicate that Bacon missed several calls in the early innings of that game, many of which were unfavorable to the Orioles.

These incidents have led to increased calls for accountability regarding umpiring decisions in Major League Baseball. Fans and broadcasters are concerned about the impact of such calls on the integrity of the game.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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