E88 - Bud Black Ejected Over Lance Barksdale's Check Swing Ball Call on Teoscar Hernández 

Id like to have a more objective standard. The college rule seems decent. It looked like he swung, but the Rockies cant let that call be that important and need to close them out.

Seeing the replay I'd say swing, but I don't think it was so clear even that way to really fault an umpire. There have been way worse check swing calls than that. If this was middle of the 4th no one really even blinks an eye at the call

Made me smile to see you featured in the WSJ! Congrats.

The fact that you’ve got people in these comments that have it confidently both ways, with replays to help, tells me this was just a close one. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for getting the call right, but one thing I think gets lost sometime in the age of replay is that some calls are just right on the line. Baseball has fewer of these than some sports; was that a block or a charge in basketball is a great one. Sometimes it’s genuinely 50-50 and you gotta pick one.

When I saw the action live I immediately thought “no swing” before the 1st base ump signaled safe. It just didn’t look like a swing.

Yeah, I had a feeling that was gonna be a Black ejection. That was the ballgame right there.

It's clearly borderline... I know some umps that agree with Angel where just starting is enough (bat to the zone.. not).. I know I would probably have given the hammer.. but it is really on that line...

Comebacks can be pretty wild sometimes. I was watching a Single A game and we were down 9-1 in the 2nd inning. We were up 12-9 with two outs in the 9th inning, and finally won 13-12 in extra innings. 29 hits combined for the two teams. It was not a pitcher's night.

Thanks for the rule clarification on calling time. The only thing about it is that I see umpires granting time when a pitcher is set all the time.

From slo-mo I'd say he swung by *any* standard, but at full speed it isn't easy to tell.

Full speed I didn't think this was a swing. But slowed down, I would say it is. The fact that the bat was angled back all but that little bit is probably why it looked like he held it.

We got a shot to hit 100 before then end of the month.

The NCAA's half swing rule could stop a lot of these arguments. Instead, MLB has arguments and ejections because OBR doesn't want to define a half swing. I think no matter what happens in this situation, there's going to be an argument. Hopefully this will be addressed in the 2025 rulebook.

The fact that the first base umpire told the Rockies players after the game that it "wasn't even close" tells you that he had an agenda. You can argue about whether he swung or not. It is laughable to claim that it wasn't even close.

Real-time I didn't have a swing. My read on the body language was that he'd pulled up on the swing attempt before the hands came through. Sure, the bat carved a path to the middle of the zone, but that's not the rule.

Thank you for the video

50/50 call. one of those where there wouldn't have been enough video evidence to overturn whichever way it was initially called. the rockies just losing their shit cuz they couldn't hold a 5 run lead in the 9th.

That is sooooooo close… I could see that going both ways, but I would be angry as well if I was a Rockies fan

Teo was right on the edge. When it’s game ending like that I think the tie should go to the hitter. Good call

2:00 I hope MLB can eventually make the “Struck at and missed” rule clearer.

I wonder if we are going to top last season's total of 239. Looks like it could be close since we hit E88 on June 5th of last year

Not only did the barrel of the bat go past the hip, but it went in front of the plate. Other than a bunt that gets pulled back, when does the barrel do that and it's not considered "struck at by the batter".

Ultimately the TV angle means nothing because the TV angle is irrelevant to this call. The angle that matters is how did it look 90 feet away at 1B. I can certainly see how that could be less definitive.

The torso twists, but the wrists don't really extend out as if to actually attempt to swing at it. I've got no swing here.

Yeah he struck at it, bat was even moving forward as the ball passed the bat. He didn't stop that swing soon enough for me.

Ring him up and get out of town. 😊

the rockies will never forgive Lance Barksdale for this game.

I acknowledge that the ump is in a tough spot on a call like that, especially if it would end the game on that call....HOWEVER, all you have to do is watch basically any game, and watch how easily balls are fouled off on check swings. If that pitch was at the same level as the bat on the check swing, that is a foul ball....therefore, "struck at by the batter"

Front angle it looked like a no swing. Side angle there’s more of an argument.

Had that been called a swing on the check swing, the Rockies would have won and Dave Roberts (Dodgers Manager) would have had a big argument. It's too close to call if he went or not.

As a fan of neither team, he definitely struck at the ball, should have been a strike

It was definitely a swing but yes the Rockies shouldn’t have let the game get that close even though sometimes it can’t be helped

No lead is safe until the final out.

These go 50 50 in real time, if I was a Colorados fan I'd say swing and if I was a dodgers fan I'd say checked lol but for what I saw, I lean a lot more towards swing

I've got it as no swing too. But hey, blame the umps for giving up a 7-spot and then not scoring. Whatever gets you to sleep at night 😝

Don’t leave it up to the umpires!!! Pitch strikes, hit the ball, catch the ball……seems pretty easy😂😂😂😂⚾️⚾️

I can't think of a good rule for check swings that is 100% objective. Angle of the bat, position of any part of the bat relative to the plate, position of any part of the bat relative to the batter's body, etc., all seem imperfect-batters will just develop a technique to technically avoid the forbidden motion even when they have sufficiently committed to swinging. And no ump would be able to see well enough to apply those standards very accurately. Just asking the umpire with the best view: "Do you think the batter tried to hit the ball?" is fine IMO. The way to make it perfect would be to allow managers to use a challenge, even though it's a judgement call. Let the replay umps watch various angles in slow motion and make a judgement call of their own based on the full picture.

So much to unpack here: - I have never seen that Jeopardy clip, and really want to, but I can't find it. Any help out there? (EDIT: found it--didn't realize it was from Cheers) - I love the specific examples in the rulebook. "Even if they claim 'dust in their eyes,' 'steamed glasses,' 'didn't get the sign'...". Clearly all three of those have been used before. - That Mexican Baseball League clip wasn't an example of a "worse call." It was an example of a "corrupt call." That's just changing the rules in the moment to benefit one team.

As an L.A. native, and avid Dodger fan, I would have called that a strike. But, it was close enough to go either way. I wonder if Colorado having the second worst record in the NL, and the Dodgers having the second best record in the NL had anything to do with the call.

"barrell past the hands doesnt mean much". I appreciate when you say what you would call, and you usually do. You didnt here because its a judgement call? Well make your judgement. He DIDNT strike at the ball?

I think it’s fair to say most teams have both benefitted and been screwed by this subjective call. This one just hurts more.

Wish we got both first base side camera angles so people could see just how unclear it was.

The swing rule is so broken. In fact all rules that are subjective are broken in my opinion

anyone know why coming set is magic here? I get once they are in their windup but with no time limit on staying in set position other than the full pitch clock, it seems reasonable to want to call time if the pitcher has held a set position for say 10 seconds. I don't want to see batters intentionally waiting until 8s to make eye contact every pitch just to limit how long the pitcher can stay set. That's not good baseball. As for the swing - that's so borderline that one side is going to be mad either way.

He nearly went all the way around. I don't see how you can be so bad to miss that call.

Fun fact in the bottom of the ninth the umpire called ball 4 on what should've been a game-ending strike 3. This put the runner at 1st and brought the tying run to the plate. So we're even in my book Also the thing with Will Smith is apparently he thought the pitch clock ran out

I feel like doing more of the same thing just like the Rockies announcer Drew Goodman said up in the broadcast booth its no wonder the Rockies lose some of their games due to BS calls by the Umpire Pigs the Umpires don't care about teams like the Rockies in fact MLB doesn't care about teams like the Rockies whenever teams like the Rockies suffocate threw harsh struggles it's music to MLB's ears that's for sure 🙄🤦‍♂️

If anything, your many many many many many check swing videos have only highlighted the need to revise the rule.

I’m not a fan of either team but Colorado should’ve had this game. Then again, they were beating MLB’s favorite team.

As a dodger fan I agree umpires fucked up lol finally dodgers got to one of her videos

That was a swing.

Close, could have gone either way. The only thing that matters is the Dodgers won as they should.

Rockies won seven to 6

That bat was moving through the zone as the ball entered the strike zone, Barksdale blew that call.

Dodger fan here. I would have called a swing. If he made contact it would have been a double off the wall.

That was strike 3. The rest of the stuff that happens in the inning doesn’t matter. Rockies were out of that and should have won. Clear strike 3 and 3 outs. Barrel of bat clearly out in front of his entire body. Also Barksdale reactions shows he’s too cocky for his own good.

His bat didn’t cross the plate.

the umpires definitely gave this game to the Dodgers

When you messed up and possibly cost them game then don’t stick around after game intimidating and looking into dugout to bait the angry players. Very unprofessional. Just leave the field.

That wasn't a check swing by any reasonable measure. The ump blew it at a critical moment and MLB needs to stop giving umpires cover on this and define what a check swing is.

Thought the rule was if the wrists break

Sounds like it’s time to fire that junk manager, Bud Black, and force him into retirement now, Rockies, if I were you. He can’t even manage the team well if they don’t develop like the Padres didn’t when he was previously with them. He’s an absolute waste for this Rockies franchise team. Just 🗑.

Are the Rockies complaining because they couldn’t hold a big lead, or upset that they suck.

Fire Bud Black already! Sell the team

When I saw it initially at full speed I said "ball" and so did the ump. But the replay shows the head of the barrel well past the front hip. We need to be calling this a strike at all levels. When I ump the bases, I am going to err on the side of "strike" going forward because it's almost an optical illusion.

It's crazy how these videos always infuriate me, even though I'd otherwise have zero interest in the outcome.

who cares its the rockies. poor bud black. poor players. just mercy disband the team already.

People blaming the umps are the reason the Rockies blew a 9-0 lead lol

The Rockies don't deserve to win giving up 7 runs in the 9th, period.

More proof of how bad MLB umpires are

Oh no! You lost ONE GAME in June in a 162 game season on a possible bad call from the umpire! What will you do? I don't get it. I just don't get it. The outcome of this game is .62% of the season. It's not like this is the deciding game that sends someone to the playoffs or decides a playoff series or the World Series. Be mad...fine. You lost...fine. The umpires "screwed" you...fine. Why spend one bit of energy on this?

FSU fans feel the Rookies pain.

They ejected a black? Which black did they eject! I got beef!

Oh I bet the game itself was rigged as in it teetered from COL favor to LAD with one swing of the bat in the 9th

If you're an umpire at any level and think he made the right call. It would be best if you quit, get your eyes examined, and get a psych eval done. I see an MLB investigation in Lance's future.

you blew a fing big leauge over a judgement call no that not why you lost a game you lost for your crappy pitching

Dodgers win. Bottomline.