First base umpire CB Bucknor had a rough night during Game 1 of the ALDS between the Los Angeles Angels and Boston Red Sox. The veteran missed not one, but two brutal calls that each went against the visitors, both involving the very vocal Kevin Youklis and both involving Howie Kendrick.
Twice Bucknor ruled Kendrick safe on plays at the bag, once rulling that Youklis had pulled his foot on a force, and another where he ruled Youk missed a tag. The picture over to the left seems to contradict the first play in question, and video replays also stand in stark contrast to the second call.
Considering the fact that the Red Sox put up a big, fat zero on the scoreboard, these calls didn’t cost them the game. But, is it too much to ask that the umpiring in the playoffs be conducted at the highest level? That seems fairly reasonable.
Bucknor was voted the worst umpire in the majors in a 2006 poll, a fact that certainly didn’t escape Boston-area media outlets.
