It began like any other high-energy night under the lights. However, what unfolded mid-game had fans clutching their phones. The environment was electric, however, tensions simmered just below the surface. A questionable call here, a missed strike there and quickly, it became personal. And in the blink of an eye, things exploded, a $5.85M star was gone and one umpire was roasted.

The chaos began with a 3-2 count and a pitch that did not just flirt with the strike zone—it ghosted it completely. Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. was at the plate. He was locked in at the period of a tight seventh-inning moment against Bay’s Mason Montgomery. The pitch—low, outside and off the plate—was called a strike by home plate umpire John Bacon. That was mistake number two in the same at-bat, according to Statcast.

Chisholm wasn’t having it. Visibly annoyed, he exchanged words with Bacon and was tossed instantly, labelling his first ejection as a Yankee and the team’s first of the season. He didn’t throw punches, but he did launch his helmet. Then, in today’s version of a post-game rant, he bounced on X and posted four unfiltered words: “Not even f—— close”.

He deleted it shortly after, but not before it blew up online, erupting a firestorm from supporters, analysts, and fellow players. Speaking postgame, Chisholm didn’t hide back PR-speak. “I feel like a lot of stuff hasn’t been going my way, but that doesn’t give me the excuse to go out there and act like that“, he added. “I’m a ballplayer, I have emotions”.

He said, “I did what I did. I can live up to my responsibilities. It doesn’t matter to me“. The man was not backtracked—and honestly, neither were fans. And then there’s John Bacon. The umpire who now seems to trend more frequently than some talents. His call didn’t just raise eyebrows—it was the 12th missed call of the night, per @UmpStrikeZone. Eight of those favored the Yankees, four went Tampa’s way. But it’s not just the volume—it’s the context.

This was after he had already made a controversial ejection earlier in the week, throwing Orioles manager Brandon Hyde over a strike call that also lifted questions. That night? Seventeen missed calls. Fourteen against the Orioles.

This cord of errors is turning Bacon into a replicating name in baseball disputes. And as fans pointed out on social media, “You know it’s bad when Yankees and Orioles fans agree on something”. The disapproval wasn’t just from the bleachers. Analyst breakdowns, umpire tracking sites, and former players called for accountability.

So, what is the deeper issue in this situation? It is not just a bad call. It is the pattern. It is the second tragedy engaging Bacon in one week. It is a fact that high-stakes games are prone to inconsistency at the plate. And while Jazz Chisholm might face league discipline for his outburst, many supporters are asking—when do umpires get held accountable?

Fans rip John Bacon after Chisholm ejection, call for accountability

“One of the worst things you can do as an umpire”, one fan said. All those watching the game live identified the umpire’s quick reaction to the ejection. Specifically, after a visibly frustrated but non-violent reaction from Chisholm Jr.. When umpires insert themselves into the aspect of a game, specifically, by eliminating a star for highlighting frustration at a call later proven incorrect by Statcast, it transforms attention from the match to the officiating.

As per the umpire accuracy tracker at UmpStrikeZone, Bacon missed 12 calls Thursday night. This did not contain borderline pitches; however, clear, objective errors. That is why one fan said, “John Bacon is a terrible umpire. He was all over the place last night”. It was not just one team getting burned, either. The inconsistency established confusion for hitters, pitchers and broadcast commentators who questioned the strike zone. 

Multiple fans highlighted the need for further training, saying that the umpire’s performance resembled that of a minor league umpire. One fan said, “this umpire needs to go back to Triple-A for more practice”. This is not an isolated sentiment; earlier in the week, Bacon was engaged with another controversial game. At that game, he missed 17 calls.

With frustration, a fan said, “this guy is continuing Angel Hernandez’s legacy”. The mention of Hernandez—infamous among baseball fans for controversial calls—was not made lightly. He has been criticized for continuously missing strikes, sometimes guiding to vital game-transforming outcomes. For instance, in a game between the Jays and the Yankees, Hernandez missed a clear strike that guided to a HR. It is a statement that says Bacon is establishing a bad reputation. Like Hernandez, Bacon’s name is starting to become more recognizable for the wrong reasons.

“This guy is ridiculous. The game does not need human error when it is not an error to purposely make up a call and then throw a guy out because of it,” one fan said. This reaction hit a nerve with many. They understand that umpires can make mistakes; however, what the fans saw Thursday was not an honest error. The pitch to Chisholm Jr was clearly outside and Statcast confirmed it. His ejection looked like a personal reaction by the umpire instead of a vital move.

The backlash against John Bacon was not just mental—it was backed by data, repla and patterns of behavior. Fans are no longer just complaining related to “bad calls”. They are asking for structural liability for umpires who continuously disrupt games. The Chisholm ejection could be just one moment in a long season. However, for multiple fans, it is part of a larger issue that needs fixing now.