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Milwaukee Brewers victimized by worst umpire call of year (so far)

By David Hill|
Apr 28, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell argues with first base umpire Marty Foster after he ruled pitcher's interference on a play in the second inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 28, 2021; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell argues with first base umpire Marty Foster after he ruled pitcher's interference on a play in the second inning during the game against the Miami Marlins at American Family Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

There has been a push to replace umpires with a robotic strike zone due to the utter ridiculousness of some of those arbiters behind the plate. One could understand if the Milwaukee Brewers want to replace every umpire on the diamond after Wednesday.

The Brewers found themselves victimized in the top of the second. Umpire Marty Foster called Isan Diaz safe on a grounder to the first base side of the mound when he was clearly out.

Milwaukee Brewers victimized by worst call of the year (so far)

This was a harmless enough play. Diaz hit a grounder to the first base side of the mound, where Brewers’ pitcher Zack Godley made the play. He took a couple of steps toward the bag before flipping the ball to the first baseman for the out. Absolutely nothing to see there.

But umpire Marty Foster was looking for something. He ruled that Godley was in the path of the runner, impeding his progress so that he could not get to the bag. Considering that Diaz was out by several steps, the idea that he even had a chance of being called safe on that play is riduclous.

To Foster, Diaz was safe anyway. He claimed that Godley was in the baseline, although he never left the infield grass. Maybe he was somewhat in Diaz’s way, but that was because the Marlins’ second baseman was literally running on the grass himself. There was nothing that Godley could do there.

It may not be entirely accurate to state that Foster’s call changed the complexion of the game, but it certainly was a factor. Corey Dickerson was going to score on that play anyway, but that should have been the second out of the inning. After a wild pitch moved Jon Berti and Diaz up to second and third, Chad Wallach should have been the inning ending strikeout. Instead, another wild pitch plated Berti with the second run of the inning before Sandy Alcantara struck out to end the frame.

There have been numerous questionable calls from major league umpires this season. The Milwaukee Brewers were victims of the worst call of the year – so far.

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