It feels like deja vu with baseball officiating sparking debates yet again. Missed calls are becoming an unwelcome staple in many games. The latest chapter came during the thrilling San Francisco Giants’ home opener against the Seattle Mariners. It was a back-and-forth battle under the lights at Oracle Park, going into extra innings. But what could have been a great game ended up being marred by a controversial call, with fans discussing less about clutch hits and more about umpire errors.

April 4th marked a special occasion at Oracle Park, celebrating 25 years by the Bay. What unfolded was pure baseball drama – a contest that stretched more than four hours in which the lead changed hands seven unthinkable times. Giants shortstop Willy Adames was a late hero, while Matt Chapman hit a homer. Julio Rodríguez and Jorge Polanco gave Seattle some early fireworks. But even with the excitement, the game remained close, tied 8-8 after nine innings. This set the scene for a dramatic extra-innings ending.

Then came the bottom of the 11th inning, the moment everyone is talking about. With the Mariners leading 9-8, two outs, and Giants batter Tyler Fitzgerald facing reliever Carlos Vargas, Vargas threw a slider on a full count. Strike three, game over? Not according to home plate umpire Sean Barber, who called it ball four. The data-tracking account Umpire Auditor didn’t mince words on X: “Umpire Sean Barber gifted Tyler Fitzgerald a walk on what should’ve been a strikeout… Barber missed a season-high 24 calls.” That call extended the inning.​

That one call swung the door wide open for the Giants. Instead of heading to the 12th inning, Fitzgerald took first base and then stole second, putting the winning run in scoring position for Willy Adames. Adames promptly singled home both runners for a walk-off 10-9 Giants win. The connection is clear: without the walk, no stolen base, no game-winning hit in that inning. Fueled by the controversy, the Giants improved to 5-1; the Mariners dropped to 3-4, feeling robbed. The “24 missed calls” figure only adds salt to the wound.​ While that crucial walk impacted the game, was it just a one-off bad night for Sean Barber?

Sean Barber’s inconsistent past

So was this just a bad night for Sean Barber? Not exactly. He’s got years of MLB experience, sure—but he’s also had some pretty rocky outings. Back in 2014, he missed a boatload of calls in a Mariners vs. A’s game. In 2021, he botched a replay ruling that cost Oakland. Oh, and don’t forget the Reds game where he missed 21 pitches. So yeah, this isn’t new territory for him. It’s a pattern—and one that’s hard for fans to ignore.

And it’s not just Barber. The 2025 season is barely out of the gate, and umpiring is already under the microscope. On MLB Opening Day, reports surfaced of 196 missed calls collectively by umpires. Just the day before, umpire Alan Porter was criticized in Oakland. He controversially called a ball on what appeared to be a clear strike three against the Red Sox in the 10th inning.

But let’s be fair – the Giants’ dramatic victory wasn’t about just Barber’s dubious decision. They played their guts out, fighting back from a 5-0 deficit early. The critical moment leading to the final inning arguably came in the eighth. Catcher Patrick Bailey blasted a mammoth three-run homer to make it 8-8, wiping out a deficit. And it wasn’t that Willy Adames just got a free pass. He delivered the clutch game-winning single under pressure.

Let’s not forget—The Mariners, had chances to win this one too. Their bullpen, usually a bright spot, completely fell apart. Gregory Santos gave up the game-tying homer to Bailey in the eighth. Carlos Vargas couldn’t get that final out in the 11th. Offensively, Seattle fizzled after a hot start, going just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Even Julio Rodríguez couldn’t come through with ducks on the pond. Add in a costly bobble from Victor Robles in the final inning, and yeah—this one slipped through their fingers as much as it was taken away.