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The bizarre umpire show continues. Baseball umpires have recently been coming under fire for what many think has been poor decision-making. From college ball to minor league to MLB, fans have criticized umpires at every stage. A little league team tried to crack down on unruly audiences with a rule of their own. But the recent ejection at a Tampa Bay Rays vs the Oakland Athletics game has left MLB fans furious.

The Oakland team started the season with some major troubles. Amid news of relocation, there were upset fans storming their games with signs of “Sell the team” directed at John Fisher. A recent winning streak seems to have lifted spirits but for many, the moment was overshadowed by the latest umpire ruling.

Isaac Paredes gets ejected in a game vs the Oakland Athletics

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Before joining the Rays in 2022, Paredes played with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Wherever he went, he was known as a calm and mild-mannered young player. In this instance, Paredes came to the plate in the sixth inning and stood against Oakland?s James Kaprielian. With one man on and one man out, the Rays player took the first pitch for a strike, but he didn’t necessarily agree with the call.

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He readjusted his batting gloves and seemed to be talking to himself, and that, apparently, was enough to incense the home plate umpire, Manny Gonzalez, and he immediately ejected Paredes. The Rays infielder tried to talk to him but nothing would change his mind.

Rays manager Kevin Cash tried to resolve the situation but to no avail. He later said, ?It just looked like he was frustrated by the pitch. Look, all of our guys work so hard. We try to put pressure on them to make sure that they stay in the zone, but one of those close pitches, he didn?t like it and I guess he expressed that.? The audience watching the events unfold didn’t like it either.

Baseball fans are furious

For many, this was just another instance of umpires letting their emotions get in the way. Fans have been rallying for stricter rules and less power to the umps for better outcomes.

Many called for robo-umps to be in games from now on.

Some thought umpires needed to be fined too.

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What did you think of this ruling? Was it unreasonable or justified?

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