In the Pittsburgh Pirates’ two-game series away from Detroit, complaints about the strike ball decision continued throughout the series. It was full of regret about the judgment that was neither accurate nor consistent.
Pittsburgh’s Bae Ji-hwan started in center field 7 times in the last game of the series against the Detroit Tigers held at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan on the 18th (hereinafter referred to as Korean time) and recorded 1 hit in 5 at-bats, 1 run and 2 strikeouts. He had a 0.237 batting average for the season. The team won heavily, 8-0.스포츠토토
Team victory is a happy thing, but Bae Ji-hwan’s expression was not bright. When we met after the game, he expressed strong regret about the judgment that came out of the strikeout scene.
Detroit manager AJ Hinch protests the strike decision. Photo (Detroit, USA)=ⓒAFPBBNews = News1
If you take a good look at the contents of the plate, you can understand the regret and anger. In the 7th at-bat, an 87-mile cutter on the fourth pitch went over the strike zone with a 2-1 count, but referee Nick Lentz declared a strike. What was supposed to be 3-1 became 2-2. He drove to a 3-2 full count, but ended up striking out on a swing.
It was even worse in the 9th inning. This time, in the 2-1 count, the 91.4 mile four-seam fastball on the 4th pitch was far out of the strike zone, but a strike was declared. This time, he had to strike out again after a full count.
It was not a decision that would affect the win or loss as the score difference was wide open. Even so, each at-bat is never a pleasant thing from the point of view of a valuable player.
It’s not something he experiences once or twice, which makes it even more unpleasant. Bae Ji-hwan, who is playing as a full-time big leaguer for the first time this season, has suffered incomprehensible strike decisions several times before. He is experiencing ‘taming a rookie’, one of the representative vices that openly exist in the major leagues.
The referee team in charge of this series seemed determined to go beyond ‘taming a rookie’ and tame the entire team.
As a result, players were sent off in both games. In the first game, Pittsburgh hitter Tucupita Macano was ejected by referee Paul Emmel for showing displeasure after striking out in the top of the ninth. Even though the game was over, the referee gave the order to leave. It was a very emotional action.
In the second game, an ejection came from the opposite Detroit bench. Detroit manager AJ Hinch expressed his dissatisfaction after Eric Haas struck out looking in the 4th inning and was ejected by Lens referee. Hinch jumped out and argued. He had to run up to Emmel, the head umpire, who was watching third base, and stop him. It was the first exit of the season.
It is said that the judgment of the strike ball is at the discretion of the referee, and this is also part of the game, but it is unknown how long these words will prevail in a world where technology has advanced to the point where automatic strike zones (robot referees) become a reality.
The only comforting thing for the Pittsburgh team and Bae Ji-hwan is that they won the game that day, and that they can rest at home the next day. Pittsburgh will take a break a day later and start three home games against the Arizona Diamondbacks starting on the 20th.