Veteran Pirates outfielder rips umpires after Rays sweep

On Thursday, the Pirates' issues revolved around the strike zone, as they struck out seven times -- including five on called strikes. Several of those called third strikes appeared to be well out of the strike zone.
 
Had it been a one game thing, the Pirates might have been more willing to let it slide. But they had issues with the umpires in all three games of the series. During Tuesday's game, the Pirates were livid over a non-balk call they cost them a run and how the umpires were managing the pitch clock. And on Wednesday, manager Derek Shelton was ejected after getting into it with two different umpires (again regarding the pitch clock).

With increased technology to measure the strike zone umpires are coming under more and more criticism for missed calls and they do not always take that criticism kindly. Their fuses with managers and players increasingly seem shorter and they have had a tendency to take over games and insert themselves into the action in recent years. The Pirates clearly thought that was happening in this series.

On the diamond, itself, the Pirates entered their series against the Rays with the best record in the National League at 20-9, but have now lost four consecutive games.