The five worst MLB umpires in the game today
The job of an MLB umpire is simple. At the core, umpires are expected to know the rule book, to be impartial arbiters of the game, and to fade into the background. A good umpire is anonymous, someone whose name is essentially never spoken.
Then there are those umpires who feel that not only are they above the game, but that they are the game itself. These are the ones that feel that the fans come out to see them in action, and that they are completely infallible. Only mortals make mistakes after all.
The five worst MLB umpires
Sadly, it is easy to imagine some of the names on this list. These umpires have become parodies of themselves, to the point that when their names appear on social media, we all know it is going to be a disaster. But that is what happens when there is little punishment for their inability to get a call right. If nothing else, these umpires are a walking reason as to why an electronic strike zone is necessary.
Let us take a look at the five worst MLB umpires in the game today.
5. Laz Diaz
Interestingly, Laz Diaz is a solid MLB umpire in the right situation, which occurs three out of every four games.
While most of the umpires on this list are a complete disaster regardless of their spot on the diamond, Diaz is actually solid on the bases. He rarely gets calls wrong in that capacity, and if left in such a role, would be one of those umpires that does not generate any notoriety.
The problem is that he needs to step behind the plate every fourth game. In that time, he goes from being a competent umpire to Mr. Magoo. It is fair to wonder if he actually knows the difference between a ball and a strike, as his calls make that rather questionable. It is almost as though he is calling the game with his eyes closed at times.
Laz Diaz is essentially two different MLB umpires. He is competent on the bases, but a complete disaster behind the plate.
4. Ted Barrett
Ted Barrett is one of the more imposing MLB umpires. He used to box with Mike Tyson back in his younger days, making him someone that, frankly, one may not want to be too argumentative with.
That does not mean that he is a good umpire. Barrett was actually the worst umpire in MLB in 2018, getting over 11.5% of his calls wrong. He is hardly someone who inspires anything close to confidence when he is behind the plate.
There are plenty of videos on YouTube to support his inability to call a game correctly. One can find such clips such as when he got four consecutive pitches wrong, or when he called a pitch six inches outside a strike. His time should have come to an end long ago.
Instead, MLB made him a crew chief in 2019. Amazingly, he is not the worst umpire on his crew either.
3. CB Bucknor
There are some umpires that pitchers love to see behind the plate due to their strike zone. CB Bucknor is one of those.
It is one thing to give pitches in a specific part of the zone but not in another. Consistency also matters, as a pitch that is called a ball the first time should be called a ball when it is in that spot a second time. That is not the case with Bucknor, whose strike zone is essentially twice the width of home plate.
This does not mean that his struggles as an umpire only favor pitchers. Bucknor is also known for his ‘foul tips,’ where he claims that the batter made contact even though the bat is several inches above the ball. It is fair to say that he has no idea what he is doing on the diamond.
It is sad when the reputation of the umpire precedes him. In CB Bucknor’s case, his horrendous ability behind the plate is noteworthy.
2. Joe West
Argumentative. Short tempered. Looking to start conflict where none exists. Convinced the fans are there to see him in action. Thoroughly inept.
All of those phrases, and several that should not be used on a family friendly site, could be used to describe Joe West. He has his moments where he can be considered a loveable character on the diamond, as his interactions with various players can be amusing, but he is not there to entertain – he is there to call the game.
In that aspect, West comes up short. His strike zone is inconsistent at best, and there had even been allegations that he could be bribed to call pitches for favors off the diamond (West won that lawsuit). But just the fact that those statements seemed plausible indicates how erratic he can be as an umpire.
There are two things that can be said for Joe West – at least he is retiring at the end of the 2021 season, and at least he is not Angel Hernandez. Speaking of…
1. Angel Hernandez
You know you are terrible at your job when that is determined in the legal system. Such is the case with Angel Hernandez.
Hernandez had his discrimination suit against MLB thrown out due to his general ineptitude on the diamond. He had claimed that he was passed over as a crew chief and for postseason assignments based on his race and a feud with Joe Torre, when he was really passed over due to the fact that he is horrendous at his job.
There are far too many instances to recount all of them. He is horrendous in every aspect behind the plate. A prime example of his inability to call a game correctly came in Game Three of the 2018 ALDS, where four of his calls were challenged in the first four innings, with three being overturned. How he is still allowed on the diamond is a mystery to everyone involved.
dark. Next. West wins defamation lawsuit against Lo Duca
Angel Hernandez is widely panned as the worst MLB umpire. Considering how utterly incompetent he is, one has to wonder if he is watching a completely different game than everyone else.