#1
Batter cannot believe the umpire called a strike, a breakdown
In the Southwest Region final of the 2021 Little League World Series qualifier, Texas West faced Louisiana with a trip to Williamsport on the line.
Best Umpire Controversy Breakdowns
A focused list of officiating flashpoints and close-call drama.
#2
Josh Donaldson gets ejected after hitting a home run, a breakdown
On September 17, 2020, Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson got tossed during a 2-2 game against the White Sox, and the timing made it bizarre.
#3
Cardinals ask to check hitters bat after he hits a grand slam, a breakdown
On September 1, 2021, in a Reds-Cardinals game, Cincinnati's Nick Castellanos came up with the bases loaded against Cardinals reliever J.
#4
Joe Kelly throws at Bregman and mocks Correa, a breakdown
On July 28, 2020, in the COVID-shortened season opener rematch between the Dodgers and Astros, Joe Kelly turned a relief appearance into payback for Houston's 2017 sign-stealing scandal.
#5
Fan shines laser pointer in player's faces, a breakdown
During an August 2021 Dodgers-Mets game tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth, Trea Turner came up with a runner on first and one out in his first weeks with Los Angeles.
#6
Yankees have the worst inning in World Series history, a breakdown
In Game 5 of the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium, Gerrit Cole carried a no-hitter and a 5-0 lead into the fifth inning before everything collapsed.
#7
Trevor Bauer throws ball over centerfield wall after a rough 5th inning, a breakdown
On July 28, 2019, Trevor Bauer's bottom of the fifth fell apart against the Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
#8
Batter gets clotheslined after hitting his third homer, a breakdown
During a Venezuelan Winter League game in late 2022, Liga Paralela slugger Carlos Castro hit three home runs in one game, pimping each one with bat flips and theatrical poses.
#9
Quarterback runs backwards for an intentional safety, a breakdown
In the 2020 Louisiana-Lafayette versus Appalachian State game, Louisiana's backup long snapper became the unlikely center of the broadcast after firing four straight bad snaps over the punter's head.
#10
Schwarber loses his mind on Ángel Hernández, a breakdown
On a nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game in April 2022, Reds catcher Kyle Schwarber, wait, actually Schwarber was with the Phillies that season, ended his at-bat against Tigers closer Josh Hader by getting rung up on a called third strike from umpire Ángel Hernández in the ninth inning with his team down a run.
#11
Umpire thinks the catcher embarrassed him and ejects him, a breakdown
During a 2023 spring training game, Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto got ejected over a comical misunderstanding with a young umpire.
#12
Little Leaguer lays down one-handed bunt, a breakdown
During a 2021 Little League Midwest Regional game, Hastings, Nebraska took on a team from South Dakota with Nebraska leading 3-0.
#13
Pitcher thinks runner has his signs so tells him to shut the f up, a breakdown
In this July 2021 sequence broken down by Jomboy, Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski reaches second base and the opposing battery panics about him stealing signs.
#14
Brett Gardner gets ejected for saying nothing to the umpire, a breakdown
On August 9, 2019, during a Yankees game against the Orioles, home plate umpire Cameron Maybin.
#15
Yankees Pitcher uses funky deliveries to trick Shohei Ohtani, a breakdown
On June 29, 2021, Yankees lefty Nestor Cortes faced Shohei Ohtani during one of the best stretches of Ohtani's MVP season.
#16
Billy Butler takes offense to Gimenez framing pitches, a breakdown
Jomboy breaks down a 2016 plate-appearance standoff between Royals DH Billy Butler and the opposing catcher, Gimenez.
#17
Umpire has near perfect game behind the plate, a breakdown
Jomboy flips his usual format on its head, spotlighting an umpire who actually nailed it instead of blowing calls.
#18
Zack Greinke and Juan Soto mind games, a breakdown
During the 2019 World Series, Jomboy breaks down a single at-bat between Nationals rookie Juan Soto and Astros ace Zack Greinke.
#19
The Diamondbacks and Dodgers yell at eachother, a breakdown
Jomboy breaks down a late-game dust-up between the Diamondbacks and Dodgers in 2019.
#20
Umpire throws bat at player, a breakdown
During a White Sox-Blue Jays game on June 9, 2021, rookie Alek Manoa was trying to escape the bottom of the first when a series of botched throws and a ball through the gap let Chicago push a run home.
#21
Yanks figure out pitcher is tipping his pitches, a breakdown
During a 2022 Yankees-Tigers game, Jomboy breaks down how New York cracked rookie Elvin Rodriguez's pitch tipping.
#22
Manny Machado throws ball at Dodgers dugout and fans throw trash at the Padres, a breakdown
In Game 2 of the 2024 NLDS between the Dodgers and Padres at Dodger Stadium, San Diego controlled most of the action behind Fernando Tatis Jr.
#23
Pitcher accused of cheating via his hair, a breakdown
Guardians reliever James Karinchak got checked for foreign substances during a September 2022 game against the division-rival Twins after his habit of touching the back of his hair before nearly every pitch caught Rocco Baldelli's attention.
#24
Umpire gets suspended for this call, a breakdown
During a Southland Conference college game involving Mississippi Valley State, a home plate umpire seemed to decide he was done for the day.
#25
The Jays throw at Kiermaier because he stole their secrets, a breakdown
During a September 2021 game between the Rays and Blue Jays, Kevin Kiermaier got thrown out trying to stretch a hit into a run, and while sliding home he scooped up a piece of paper that had popped out of catcher Alejandro Kirk's wristband.
#26
Runner misses home plate & Brewers use loophole to review it, a breakdown
In a July 2021 game between the Brewers and White Sox, Milwaukee led 4-0 with the bases loaded and nobody out.
#27
Cubs and Brewers benches clear over hit by pitches, a breakdown
Over the Cubs and Brewers' opening weekend in April 2022, both teams kept plunking each other, accidental or not.
#28
Madison Bumgarner yells at Max Muncy, a breakdown
In a June 2019 Giants-Dodgers game at Oracle Park, Madison Bumgarner opened the game already barking at the home plate umpire over a borderline call on his second pitch.
#29
Javier Báez gets Ben Gamel with the fake tag, a breakdown
On July 30, 2019, the Cubs and Brewers were tied 2-2 in the ninth at Miller Park, two teams scrapping over the NL Central.
#30
Benches clear after Yankees pitcher hits Orioles batter in head, a breakdown
On July 13, 2024 at Camden Yards, Yankees closer Clay Holmes entered to protect a three-run lead in the bottom of the ninth against the Orioles.
#31
Umpires Eject the Blue Jays for nothing, a breakdown
On May 13, 2022, the Blue Jays were beating the Yankees 3-0 in the Bronx when Giancarlo Stanton crushed a tying home run off Yusei Kikuchi (the breakdown's mics misname the pitcher).
#32
Anthony Rendon never says a word but gets ejected from the game, a breakdown
Back on April 8, 2018, Nationals third baseman Anthony Rendon got tossed by home plate umpire Marty Foster without saying a single word.
#33
Rizzo Motions for the Umpire to Move, a breakdown
In a 2019 Cubs game, Jomboy breaks down a small piece of baseball etiquette he admits he'd never seen before.
#34
56 Year Old Roger Clemens pitches against the University of Texas, a breakdown
At a University of Texas alumni game, 56-year-old Roger Clemens took the mound to face current Longhorn hitters.
#35
Texas Tech steals home to win the game, a breakdown
Texas Tech and Texas were tied 4-4 in the bottom of the 10th of a 2022 college matchup when Kurt Wilson got on base as the winning run.
#36
Machado screams at Tatís in the dugout, a breakdown
On September 19, 2021, the Cardinals faced the Padres in a game both sides treated as a must-win during a tight NL wild card race.
#37
Umpire refuses to call a strike, a breakdown
Jomboy breaks down a sequence from Japan's NPB involving pitcher Tomoyuki Sugano (the video mislabels him at points as Yamaguchi).
#38
Catcher and pitcher communication and paranoia, a breakdown
In this 2019 breakdown, Jomboy zooms in on the silent chess match between Gary Sanchez and Masahiro Tanaka during a Yankees game against the Astros.
#39
Fined for criticizing the call on this play, a breakdown
In the first inning of a Guardians-Tigers game in August 2022, Cleveland catcher Austin Hedges took a throw home and tagged Javier Baez, appearing to record the third out.
#40
Bryce Harper gets ejected after telling ump to be a professional, a breakdown
On September 6, 2020, the Phillies hosted the Mets at Citizens Bank Park and trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth when Bryce Harper loafed in right field on a fly ball.