JP Crawford was kicked out after a blown strike call against the Nationals. Statcast ensures the pitch is outdoors and fans are looking for judges accountability.
Why was JP Crawford kicked out against the Nationals?
Seattle Mariners’ shortstop JP Crawford was kicked out in the sixth game of six games against the Washington Nationals on Thursday after insisting on a third strike call that clearly showed the replay was outside the zone.
Crawford took a 1-2 pitch from McKenzie Gore as the Mariners were 2-0 and the runners were on the corner.
Home Plate Referee Andy Fletcher called it Strike 3. Crawford quickly turned and cried, “It’s not a strike, man!” Fletcher didn’t hesitate – he threw the Mariners shortstop from the game.
Is JP Crawford Strike 3 Call correct?
No – MLB’s Statcast supported Crawford. The pitch was clearly outside, missing the zone with visible margins. It wasn’t a boundary line. It wasn’t nearby. It was simply a bad call.
And Crawford wasn’t the only one who thought so. Social media broke out, with fans and analysts pointing out pitch trackers as proof. Missed calls not only ended important at-bats, but also changed momentum throughout the innings.
What did JP Crawford say after ejection?
Crawford’s immediate protest was noisy, but short. He didn’t put a curse on Fletcher’s face or get into his face. He stated his case and was kicked out almost immediately.
The reaction from Crawford was more frustrating than fierce, but once he was dumped he stayed on the field, and a voice was heard before manager Dan Wilson escorted him.
Crawford was replaced by Leo Rivas in the lineup, and Dylan Moore slid down to a short stop.
Why is the MLB referee so bad this year?
Crawford’s emissions are the latest in a string of prominent umpire controversies this season. Last week alone, multiple players were kicked out after dissenting blatant missed calls. Fans increasingly seek robot umpire or automatic strike zones, and Thursday’s blown call added fuel to the fire.
One frustrated fan said, “JP has all the rights to be upset. These people are not accountable.”
It’s very wild and the referees can do this bad for their work, but they still have the power to make them seem wrong. JP has all the rights to be upset. These people are not accountable.
-Zen Bias (@AlexLenbias) May 30, 2025
Another added, “Amps like this make it difficult to watch baseball.”
This kind of UMP makes it difficult to see https://t.co/jkmenszvdu
– bretthew (@brettytweets) May 30, 2025
Does MLB use robot umpire?
There are buildings with great momentum. MLB is testing automated ball strike systems (ABS) in minor leagues and has not yet been implemented in majors, but incidents like this only increase pressure.
Crawford’s emissions were the perfect example of a Cole that could have been instantly overturned or fixed with the help of technology. Instead, the Mariners lost their short stop to start at a pivotal moment on a possible mistake that could have been avoided.
What does this mean for the Mariners?
The Mariners eventually lost Game 9-3, starting with their sixth meltdown – Crawford’s emissions, and it was a turning point.
After Crawford’s controversial strikeout, Julio Rodriguez was fired, Cal Lowry was attacked by the pitch, and Randy Arozarena loaded and hit the base. The team never recovered.
At 30, Crawford has a solid season and leadership at the top of the lineup is extremely important. What he lost to the discharge, especially what he felt was unfair, was the momentum killer.
