The Yankees blew a three-run lead and suffered a painful loss to Houston on Wednesday. For the umpteenth time this season, the relief pitching could not get the job done and spoiled the work of starter Will Warren, who controlled the Astros’ artillery in a good way for five innings.
The New York relievers allowed six earned runs and failed to get the important outs against Houston’s powerful offense, led by Yordan Alvarez and Jeremy Pena. Four walks, two wild pitches and a balk spoiled the performance of the Yankees’ relievers, particularly Devin Williams, who took the loss.
But regardless of the result, the controversy of the day was in the performance of umpire Brian Walsh, who was below the league averages in counting effectiveness. The umpire called eight balls that were strikes and eight strikes that were balls, hurting the Yankees in much of his decisions.
Walsh ejected Williams and mentor Aaron Boone in the eighth inning, when the Astros pulled away. After this string of questionable decisions, an image of the umpire wearing a Red Sox jersey, the Yankees’ eternal rival, began to circulate on social networks.
The photo in question was taken during the 2013 World Series, in which Boston defeated the Cardinals, and was published by Walsh on his personal Facebook profile. This has sparked debate over whether MLB should have a blatantly biased umpire working in the league.
Logically, it has all taken on greater connotation because his errors have come against the Yankees, who, beyond being Boston’s classic rival, are playing for a postseason berth right against the Red Sox.
Brian Walsh’s darkest night
Brian Walsh began working as a Major League Baseball umpire in April 2023, although he had spent almost eight years working in the Minor Leagues. Despite his experience, he was overwhelmed in Wednesday’s game between the Yankees and Astros. His mistakes were very evident:
- In the seventh inning, with two outs and a 1-1 count, Walsh called a pitch by Luke Weaver right on the edge of the zone as a ball. If Walsh had called the strike, Jeremy Peña would have been on the brink of the abyss. In the end, he ended up walking and just after Yordan Alvarez tied the game with a hit to left.
- In the eighth inning, with a runner on second and no outs, Walsh called two clear strikes by Devin Williams against Jesus Sanchez as balls. With these two pitches he could have struck him out, because before it had been marked in the center of the zone. That would have been the first out of an inning that later became complicated for the Yankees.
- In the eighth inning, with the bases loaded and Taylor Trammell batting, the umpire called Williams’ third pitch a ball, even though it was located right on the inside edge of the zone. This decision upset the Yankees reliever, who was ejected shortly thereafter.
- In the ninth inning, with a minimal difference on the scoreboard (8-7) and Jazz Chisholm batting in a 3-2 count, Walsh called a pitch that was outside the zone as a strike, ending the game. That would have been the fourth ball and a walk for the Yankees infielder, putting the potential tying run on base.
Taking responsibility
There is no denying the impact of Brian Walsh’s decisions on the outcome of the game between the Yankees and Astros, but he is not solely responsible for the outcome.
The New York Yankees’ relievers once again left much to be desired, throwing away a game they had within reach. This is a problem that has plagued the Yankees almost all season and one that they have not even managed to solve after the moves at the trade deadline.
On the other hand, Walsh’s mistakes once again bring to the table the debate over the implementation in the Major Leagues of the Automatic Ball and Strike System, which has given good results in the Minor Leagues and in spring training. This tool could put an end to the controversy over counts and would give umpires a definitive break. Hopefully it will not be long in coming.
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