Madison Bumgarner doesn't realize he struck out and Joe West got giddy, a breakdown
What Happened
In a clash between the San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants, veteran umpire Joe West and Giants pitcher Madison Bumgarner engage in a comical exchange on the mound. With the game on the line, Bumgarner steps up to the plate, unaware that he has already struck out. As the 1-0 pitch is delivered, Bumgarner swings hard, believing the count to be 2-0 in his favor. However, umpire Joe West had silently rung up the strikeout, but Bumgarner, not hearing the call, remains convinced the count is in his favor. Bumgarner takes a massive swing on the next pitch, only to realize too late that he has struck out, much to the amusement of both West and the catcher. Bumgarner, puzzled by the situation, looks around, unsure of what has just transpired. West, uncharacteristically giddy, can't contain his laughter at the pitcher's confusion. The seasoned umpire, known for his no-nonsense approach, is visibly delighted by the comedic moment, unable to wipe the smile from his face. As Bumgarner collects himself and reluctantly accepts the strikeout, West continues to chuckle, reveling in the lighthearted exchange. The contrast between the stoic umpire and the bewildered pitcher creates a genuinely entertaining moment on the diamond, providing a brief respite from the high-stakes competition. Despite their past clashes, West and Bumgarner seem to share a mutual understanding and respect, with the umpire's uncharacteristic display of mirth hinting at a deeper camaraderie between the two. The incident serves as a reminder that even in the heat of a closely contested game, moments of levity and shared laughter can arise, humanizing the game's key figures and endearing them to the fans. As the players and umpires return to the action, the memory of this lighthearted exchange lingers, a testament to the unpredictable nature of sports and the enduring appeal of the human element that makes the game so captivating.
Full Transcript
Click timestamps to jump to that momentfun incident in the Padres Giants game
Joe West and Madison Bumgarner two guys
who like
controlling the game they like being the
leader of the game they've had some
incidents before strike one gets called
but he doesn't audibly call it and he
just does the motion and bumgarner's not
looking at him so I think bum thought
that was a ball he thinks it's 1-0 it's
Owen one now he thinks it's 2-0 so he
swings huge pretty funny 2-0 fastball
count it's one and one but bum thinks
it's 2-0 so he's got a big 2-0 swing
swings right through it you can see him
collect himself like okay real at bat
starts now it's two in one it's actually
one and two takes that pitch down the
middle strikes out doesn't realize he
Strikes Out catcher and Joe West both
look at him like uh Madison
uh that was strike three oh okay and Joe
West is gonna giggle more than I've ever
seen him giggle I don't think I've seen
him smile much and he is absolutely
thrilled this is his favorite moment of
the Season he's gonna put his helmet
back on Matt's gonna get a swing in like
yeah I thought I had one more swing left
and Joe S is just gonna giggle look at
this
like just a giggle machine definitely
his fan
can't control himself all right yeah
look at this giggle fest absolute giggle
fest from Joe West