Umpire Junior Valentine has been in the spotlight recently due to some questionable strike calls.
During a game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres, Valentine made four blown calls regarding strikeouts.
Similarly, umpire Doug Eddings had three blown calls during a game between the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks.
— Welcome to the Ump Show (@umpjob) April 9, 2024
Valentine’s accuracy for called strikes was 87%, slightly below the league average of 88%. Meanwhile, Eddings struggled more, with only 84% of called strikes being correct.
These missed calls have sparked discussions about the need for robot umpires, especially since balls and strikes are not currently reviewable in MLB games.
In another incident, Junior Valentine faced an unexpected challenge during a Cardinals-Mets game. While umpiring first base, he was struck in the face by an errant throw from Cardinals’ shortstop Edmundo Sosa.
Fortunately, Valentine was not seriously injured, but it was a rare and startling moment on the field.
Additionally, Valentine narrowly missed out on being part of a perfect game due to one bad call in the first inning.
The pressure on umpires is immense, and their decisions can significantly impact the game. Perhaps the introduction of robot umps could alleviate some of these controversies in the future.
Fans reacted as follows.
I don't understand what the big fuss is about, looks like a strike to me. pic.twitter.com/xYAAA15T6B
— Our Mets Podcast 🍎 (@OurMetsPodcast) April 9, 2024
Props to the catcher on that one
— Joshua Terry (@_joshuaterry) April 9, 2024
that’s just great framing ✊🏼
— Damien (@wunnaworld) April 9, 2024
Pulling the ball from the ankles to the top of the zone isn’t considered good framing. That’s awful umpiring.
— Davis_Gray 82 (@clh200044) April 9, 2024
That frame job was a joke 😂
— Defi Maximalist (@FutureIsFantom) April 9, 2024
Tell the umpire to watch out. Ozuna has a temper.
— MatTheMetsFan (@MatTheMetsFan) April 9, 2024
It’s a bad call, but I can at least *get* a bad call due to framing. Ump didn’t just blow the call. He got duped.
— Adam Wynn (@42cobras) April 9, 2024
even Angel Hernandez called that a ball. Jeez that's terrible.
— Bdc30 (@bdc30) April 9, 2024
There was more distance in the framing of the pitch than there was between the ball and the ground.
— ✌ (@Mundo840) April 9, 2024
Each time I see this terrible umpiring, that once unassailable wall that would accept lots of things-pitch timers, no shifts, automatic walks, using some device for calling balls and strikes crumbles a bit more. Shameful.
— Dwight Tichenor (@Bobobirdiebuddy) April 9, 2024
Ump should be jailed for that call, maybe he and Ozuna from the Braves could be cellmates
— Colin Vail (@NotVailColin) April 9, 2024
Ump should be jailed for that call, maybe he and Ozuna from the Braves could be cellmates
— Colin Vail (@NotVailColin) April 9, 2024
