Along with the best players in baseball performing in the World Series, typically, one can expect the best umpires from across the league to be calling balls and strikes.
Unfortunately, this was not the case in Game 3 of the World Series.
While there were plenty of outrageous calls all night long, the worst of them all came in the bottom of the ninth, as Gabriel Moreno thought he took ball four for a leadoff walk.
Instead, Moreno ended up grounding out to the 3rd baseman, and the Diamondbacks went three up, three down, to end the game.
Gabriel Moreno got screwed on this strike call pic.twitter.com/oa7wGqt8Vn
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) October 31, 2023
Another horrendous call came in the top of the 3rd inning.
With one out and the score tied at zero, Nathaniel Lowe took what should have been a strike three.
However, the umpire had different plans, and Lowe ended up reaching base with a double.
This double ended up being a difference-maker in the game.
Lowe also got away with a horrible call in the 5th inning as he drew a walk on a pitch that is called a strike 99/100 times.
Nathaniel Lowe just walked on one of the worst calls you'll see in a World Series game. pic.twitter.com/0aTZlnx5dA
— Jesse Friedman (@JesseNFriedman) October 31, 2023
Throughout the game, there were far too many erroneous calls on both sides for a World Series game. This led to a collective outpouring of frustration from fans on social media, with many demanding better officiating.
Your umpires are an ABSOLUTE DISGRACE @MLB! Never seen such an atrocity in a World Series. But you knew EXACTLY what you were doing when you put your 65th ranked umpire behind home plate tonight.
— PHX Fans (@PHXFansAZ) October 31, 2023
Elite World Series level umpire pic.twitter.com/Wn6eUeI2P5
— Scott Howard (@ScottHoward42) October 31, 2023
Homeplate umpire in game 3 of the #WorldSeries
— Casey (@CaseyJ_516) October 31, 2023
Hey Mad Dog, how many calls did umpire Alfonso Marquez get wrong tonight?#Dbacks #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/fcXEtqouIR
— Jarrett Carlen (@JarrettGC) October 31, 2023
Dbacks are ahead in this series 2-1 if a competent umpire is behind the plate.
— Blake (@DeftonesFan112) October 31, 2023
BROOO WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS UMPIRE
— KingofJUCO (@KingofJUCO) October 31, 2023
.@MLB FIX YOUR UMPIRE SITUATION.
HORRIBLE BOTH WAYS.
— Texas Rangers Insider (@RangersInsiders) October 31, 2023
This is absolutely the worst umpire I have ever seen. Calls missed on both sides. How the hell is this what you’re giving us in game 3 of the WORLD SERIES @MLB
— Germán (@purdyflaco) October 31, 2023
This umpire is on the Rangers payroll and Scott Van Pelt is laughing about it
— John Rich (@JohnRichTV) October 31, 2023
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