Vladdy, you have more patience than the rest of us. Against Matt Harvey and the Baltimore Orioles, Guerrero, Jr. was victimized by an awful call.
He must know Vlad, Sr. is watching. It’s the only explanation.
Matt Harvey dialed up a 3-2 fastball on what he hoped was the outside corner of the plate. Well, Harvey got his wish, as the plate was extended by a full foot outside. Such a terrible display of officiating robbed the Blue Jays of a base-runner, and the viewer a chance to see more of Guerrero, Jr. that inning.
Bad calls like the one above are hurting baseball, and the primary reason why MLB is testing an electronic strike zone in the Atlantic League and elsewhere. Today’s stars deserve better, and so does the league office.
Toronto Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. shows amazing restraint
Guerrero, Jr. isn’t necessarily a boisterous person, so it makes sense he’d just head back to the dugout without voicing his displeasure. Yet…come on.
Incredibly enough, though, the game continued as planned. Guerrero said nothing. Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said nothing. I am apparently the only one fed up enough to mention it in the first place.
Being a professional, major-league umpire is hard. I acknowledge this. But in what world is that a strike?
We expect better. We need better. Not everyone can be Angel Hernandez-level bad.