In the early stages of the regular season, the Atlanta Braves found themselves at the center of controversy due to a questionable call made by home plate umpire Bruce Dreckman. During Saturday’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Dreckman’s decision on a pivotal 2-2 pitch from Braves pitcher Max Fried significantly impacted the outcome of the inning.
Despite Fried’s apparent delivery of a precise pitch, Dreckman ruled it a ball, prolonging the inning. This call allowed the Phillies to capitalize, resulting in Fried walking Nick Castellanos and subsequently giving up a two-run single to Bryson Stott. As a consequence, Fried struggled to navigate through the inning, conceding three runs to the Phillies.
Here is the 2-2 pitch that preceded the Castellanos bases-loaded walk. Fried would have escaped the inning unscathed. Now he exits having recorded just two outs and with the Phillies leading 3-2 in the first. pic.twitter.com/UEPVxElp6s
— Mark Bowman (@mlbbowman) March 30, 2024
While Fried still had opportunities to retire Castellanos or Stott, the missed call undoubtedly influenced the game’s momentum. The unexpected decision by Dreckman, a veteran MLB umpire, raised eyebrows given his extensive experience in officiating games since 1996.
Nevertheless, instances of players facing adversity due to erroneous calls are not uncommon in baseball. Despite the setback, the Braves showcased resilience by rallying to score three runs of their own in the following inning, regaining the lead and demonstrating their ability to overcome obstacles on the field.
